A new brand and refreshed board is to take the Humber’s place promotion organisation forward as it aims to help steer the region towards a prosperous future.
Marketing Humber, the bondholder-backed entity helping drive the area as an investment destination, is to be known as Future Humber.
New faces have been welcomed to govern operations, with the collective described as further strengthening its voice across all sectors, with membership spanning public and private spheres. They aim to give the regional, national and international influence.
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Included are Henri Murison, the high profile chief executive of The Northern Powerhouse Partnership, Reckitt's Hull lead executive Dr Bruce Charlesworth, together with Prof Dave Petley, vice-chancellor of the University of Hull and Paul Fursey, Phillips 66’s lead executive, who have both arrived in senior positions on the Humber recently.
Bill Walker, chair of Future Humber, said: “This region has a powerful story to tell as a global example of somewhere that’s redefining itself through renewed confidence, ambition, investment and opportunity. This is a story that will be told by Future Humber, supported by our strong network of influential bondholders, to promote the Humber to a wider audience.
“Future Humber will work collaboratively to prioritise people, place, partnerships and planet to make a positive difference, influencing and inspiring businesses and communities to accelerate opportunities for growth. We have a tremendous and immediate window of opportunity to make a dynamic difference to the Humber’s profile and prolonged economic success by bringing together powerful, collaborative voices to tell a story of immense potential. Our time is now.”
The board of directors will be supported by a dedicated advisory board, and the change is said to more accurately reflect the organisation’s wide-ranging work to make connections, build partnerships to promote the Humber, and help secure investment to drive growth.
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The vision is to “inspire progressive change that creates real and positive impact in our region, successfully empowering people and businesses in the Humber to thrive in a net zero world”, with a mission to “showcase our dynamic region as a collaborative community of business ambassadors, driving innovative local growth and global investment opportunities, where all can live, learn and prosper”.
Part of the new strategy is to build on the work of what was formerly Marketing Humber’s Young Talent Network, which has grown annually, and is now rebranded as Talent+. This expanded programme will work closely with the Bondholders to tackle the challenge of attraction and retention of skilled people at all levels.
Managing director Diana Taylor, who has just overseen the office move to C4DI in Hull, said: “If we’re to deliver on the scale of opportunity, it’s so important to present a compelling proposition for the region to national and global audiences. That’s what’s prompted this exciting repositioning as Future Humber – because everything we do is geared towards helping create a bright future for the region.
“Through the strength of our private and public sector network of bondholders, our established business relationships, and our strategic organisational partnerships, both regionally and nationally, we can deliver a compelling narrative to help unlock the Humber’s unlimited potential.
“Our bondholders are absolutely crucial to this successful delivery, as we work collaboratively towards our shared vision.”
The expanded Future Humber board
A 19-strong board is now in place, chaired by Bill Walker, with Future Humber managing director Diana Taylor joined by: Bruce Charlesworth, chief medical officer at Reckitt; Catherine Darby-Roberts, associate director and science, industry and technology business leader at Arup; Simon Dwyer, chief executive of Seafox Management Consultants / Seafood Grimsby and Humber Alliance; Paul Fursey, 海角视频 lead executive and general manager of Humber Refinery at Phillips 66; Richard Gwilliam, carbon storage director at Drax Group; Anja Hazebroek, designate executive director of communications, marketing and media Relations at NHS Hull Clinical Commissioning Group and Humber and North Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership; Andrew Hirst, group finance director at Vyta Health Ltd; Henri Murison, chief executive, The Northern Powerhouse Partnership; Deb Oxley, founder of Oxley Works, Deputy Lieutenant of the East Riding and Yorkshire and chair of CatZero and Ownership at Work; Andy Parkinson, chief executive of Lampada; Mark Pearson-Kendall, managing partner at Andrew Jackson Solicitors; Prof Dave Petley, vice-chancellor of the University of Hull; Chris Soper, joint managing director at Sewell Construction; Andy Sykes, plant director at Siemens Energy AG; Nikki West, senior vice president and head of global talent at Smith & Nephew; Dafydd Williams, head of policy, communications and economic development (Humber) at Associated British Ports and Chris Zanetti, managing director at Chris Zanetti Ltd and chair of The Bio-D Company Ltd.
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