A leading North East business group has announced the appointment of three prominent entrepreneurs to its board.
The Entrepreneurs’ Forum, a membership organisation made up of more than 300 leaders from high-growth North East businesses, has announced the appointment of Wessington Cryogenics director and former North East LEP board member Gill Southern MBE, media consultant and multiple radio station founder John Myers, and serial entrepreneur and management coach James Robson MBE to its board.
Gill, John and James join existing board members Nigel Mills (chairman), Paul Walker (vice-chairman), Brian Jobling, Alastair Waite, Graham Robb, Fiona Raglan, Yvonne Bell, Brendon Hayward and Pamela Petty.
While welcoming their new appointees, the Entrepreneurs’ Forum is also celebrating the contribution of Lorna Moran OBE, who has stepped down after 14 years on the board. Lorna, who founded the Forum with Sir Peter Vardy in 2002, has been honoured twice by the Queen, receiving the MBE in 2001 for services to employment creation and the OBE in 2014 for services to enterprise promotion.
Entrepreneurs Forum chairman Nigel Mills said: “It is through the contributions of our board members, past and present, that the Entrepreneurs’ Forum has become an integral part of the North East’s business community. Since our foundation in 2002 we have grown from 40 members to more than 300, and have given mentoring and support to countless businesses. By working together and learning from each other the region’s business people can create the wealth and jobs that our area desperately needs more of.
“I would like to thank Lorna for her years of dedicated service, her energy and guidance helped to bring the Forum into existence and grow it from a relatively small organisation to what it is today. At the same time, I would like to welcome our new board members, Gill, John and James, all of whom have already made a significant contribution to entrepreneurship and our organisation, as well as to their own businesses and the wider community. I am sure they will help to drive the Entrepreneurs’ Forum to further success.”