The Mayor and North East Combined Authority Cabinet have appointed John McCabe, Chief Executive of the North East Chamber of Commerce as the strategic authority’s Business and Economy Board Chair and Emily Cox of Lloyds Banking Group as Vice-Chair.
Mr McCabe will lead the newly formed Business and Economy Board which will provide expert strategic advice to North East Mayor, Kim McGuinness as she and Cabinet deliver the region’s emerging Local Growth Plan, alongside the day-to-day operations of the North East Combined Authority.
As Chair, Mr McCabe will lead the new board that will be instrumental in sharing insights from the business sector, as the combined authority continues to develop its projects and plans to grow the regional economy by creating opportunity for the people of the North East.
Emily Cox, Group Ambassador for the North and Director of Colleague Relations at Lloyds Banking Group, has also been appointed as Vice-Chair of the Business and Economy Board.
The Chair will attend cabinet meetings, sharing their experience and bringing their leading business voice into all work of the combined authority in this voluntary position.
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness, said:
“We are thrilled to have appointed John McCabe as Chair of our Business and Economy Board and Emily Cox as Vice-Chair.
“This is an exciting time for North East businesses as we harness the power of devolution to support regional businesses, drive forward investment and stimulate the local economy. The message is clear – the North East means business.
“I’m looking forward to working with John and Emily, and the Business and Economy Board to harness the experiences of businesses in the region to deliver tactical, targeted support and investment that will boost growth and opportunities for business in our amazing region.”
John McCabe, Chief Executive of the North East Chamber of Commerce and newly appointed Business and Economy Board Chair, said:
“I’m delighted to have been appointed Chair of the North East Combined Authority Business and Economy Board. This is a responsibility I will take on, independent of my role as Chamber Chief Executive. I’m looking forward to working with the Mayor, local authority leaders, and their teams to ensure the huge benefits of devolution are felt by people and businesses across our region.
“We want to establish the North East as the region of real opportunity, where there is no limit on ambition and where businesses of all sizes and sectors can thrive.
“To realise this potential, leaders in every sector of our economy all need to lean in and put our shoulders to the wheel. I’m very well aware of the urgency and scale of the issues this region faces but we also have incredible opportunities before us. Now is the time to act differently and think bigger, to reset the relationship between politics, local government, and business. That’s how we’ll deliver for the North East.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this team effort and want businesses and investors across the region to know, we have your back.”
Emily Cox, Group Ambassador for the North and Director of Colleague Relations at Lloyds Banking Group and Vice-Chair of the Business and Economy Board, said:
“Whilst the global outlook remains uncertain, there are grounds for optimism in the North East. The fundamentals we need to deliver growth are all here. We have world leading universities, outstanding further educational colleges, entrepreneurial spirit and above all great people. We are attractive to private capital that can help us build an ambitious, growth economy that can spread prosperity to all parts of our great region.
“The North East is a great place to live and work. I am looking forward to working with the Mayor and the rest of the Board to help deliver a growth economy.”