A serial entrepreneur acclaimed for his work championing the region’s Asian business community has been elected onto the board of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership.
Ammar Mirza CBE replaces Jeremy Middleton who stood down from the board in September.
Ammar is a leadership, management and business management consultant through his company AmmarM (UK) Limited and has an infectious passion for the North East.
He has helped establish hundreds of new businesses in the North East with interests and investments across a number of sectors.
As chairman and founder of Asian Business Connexions (ABC), a not for profit social enterprise, he has helped make a major social and economic contribution to community cohesion and economic growth.
The organisation connects, supports and promotes Asian companies, using its expertise to deliver best business practice for its members.
Ammar already has two years’ experience as a member of the LEP’s Business Growth Board, where he has worked hard to develop a cohesive business ecosystem that helps firms start up and sustain growth through collaboration with other companies.
He said: “I am delighted to play a more active role in supporting the economic growth of our region. The North East has some incredible strengths and the LEP offers a great opportunity to positively exploit these for the benefit of the whole community.
“Since I have been involved in the LEP through the Business Growth Board I have seen first-hand the positive impact, through active partnership working, the organisation has had on helping create more and better jobs.
“Through my experience, expertise and network I look forward to making more of a contribution to help create an environment where SMEs thrive.”
Andrew Hodgson, North East LEP Chair, said: “Ammar is a highly respected and talented businessman with a deep knowledge of the regional economy through his entrepreneurial activities and promotion of the Asian business community in particular.
“He understands the North East LEP and its strategic economic development agenda and will be a hugely beneficial appointment to our board.”
Simon Hanson, FSB Development Manager, said: “We’re delighted to see Ammar’s appointment to the North East LEP Board which will ensure that the voice of smaller businesses is heard and acted on.
“Ammar brings huge experience and a driving passion to ensure that the North East remains the best place to start, develop and grow a business.”