The former boss of the now defunct North West Regional Development Agency has been appointed CEO of a new ‘umbrella’ growth and investment body for Greater Manchester.
Mark Hughes, who was awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours List, will head a new organisation – the Greater Manchester Growth Company – that will bring together
It will take in and bring together the work of existing bodies in the Greater Manchester area including inward investment agency MIDAS, trade and investment services, including UKTI, the Business Growth Hub and some activities of Manchester Solutions.
About 100 staff will come under its remit initially.
The new organisation will be jointly chaired by Ian Stewart, city mayor of Salford, representing the Greater Manchester Combined Authority, and Michael Oglesby, chairman of property firm Bruntwood Group, representing the private sector.
Hughes took up his position on Monday and will report to joint chairmen Ian Stewart, city mayor of Salford, representing the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Michael Oglesby, chairman of Bruntwood Group, representing the private sector.
Oglesby said: “Mark’s broad experience of working with businesses in the North West made him the clear choice for this position. Manchester has ambitious plans for growth over the next few years and Mark’s role will be to take a lead in achieving this. He will be an excellent addition to Greater Manchester’s wider leadership team.”
Hughes said: “I look forward to working with colleagues at MIDAS, UKTI and the Business Growth Hub to integrate all that Greater Manchester has to offer to businesses and to ensure that the city-region capitalises on the opportunities that increasingly devolved local governance can provide.”
Stewart said: “This new organisation, under Mark’s stewardship, will enable us to further strengthen the relationship between local and central government, shaping the business support services provided to ensure that we are creating local jobs for local people.”
Mr Hughes, a married father-of-two who lives in Warrington, was head-hunted for the post after winding down the NWDA last summer.
He will be based in Churchgate House in Manchester city centre in his new role.