Top North West business leaders make it on to New Year’s Honours list
Business leaders from across the North West have been recognised in this New Year’s Honours list.
This year the list is dominated by police officers and community workers but members of the business community have been recognised.
Two of those included in the list were winners at the Business Masters awards held by the BusinessDesk.com last spring.
Juergen Maier, chief executive of Siemens’ British business, been made a CBE.
Mr Maier has occupied senior posts with Siemens, including industry sector lead for the UK and Ireland and Manufacturing Director of the Drives Factory in Congleton.
He became a member of the Siemens UK Executive Management Board in October 2008, and was appointed Chief Executive in 2014.
As well as being the former chairman North West Business Leadership Team Mr Maier was honoured at last year’s Business Masters awards.
He posted a statement on Twitter.
My thanks to the entire @SiemensUKNews and @MadeSmarterUK teams for the work we do, to stay focused and responsible in creating jobs, investment, diversity and society value for the UK. Very proud of the work we do together. Thanks for all your very kind #NYHonours19 messages. https://t.co/xi8LnkIexE
— Juergen Maier (@Juergen_Maier) December 29, 2018
He was joined on the honours list by barrister turned restaurateur Nisha Katona.
Nisha Katona was made an MBE in recognition of her services to the food industry.
Mowgli, the Indian restaurant which she opened in Liverpool 2014, is being launched across the UK.
Nisha Katona founder of Mowgli Street Food
She said: “I could not believe it when I opened the letter. The most amazing thing about it is, we do loads of charity work at Mowgli but that’s not what it’s for, it’s for services to the food industry.
“That’s the most incredible thing because it means Mowgli has done it, it’s nothing to do with me. It’s almost like my mum’s dhal has been given an MBE, I can’t tell you what that means to me.”
Sean Anstee, the former leader of Trafford council and chief executive of internet firm Telcom has also been made an CBE.
Sean heads up the infrastructure division for the Northern Quarter based firm.
Sale-resident Chris Harrop, the group marketing director of FTSE 250 hard landscaping manufacturer Marshalls, has been awarded the OBE for services to the prevention of modern slavery and exploitation.
Stretching back to 2005, he spearheaded Marshalls’ efforts to eliminate child labour and bonded labour from its global supply chain – particularly in countries such as India, China and Vietnam – as well improving working conditions.
He continues to visit its quarries around the world to meet Marshalls’ on-the-ground social auditors who are responsible for the monitoring of standards daily.
Chris Harrop said: “Despite this being a huge personal privilege for me, it is sad that slavery remains a scourge on humanity almost twenty years into the 21st century. Even in the UK, there are an estimated 136,000 people trapped in slavery today. One is too many, wherever they are.”
In 2016, he travelled to the North Pole on behalf and filmed his journey to raise awareness of the impact of climate change on the polar regions.
He continued: “Sustainability and ethics are not just ideals to me but essential foundations of market leadership and values that we have instilled in the Marshalls brand and business.
“The business was established in the 1880s and today it leads by example as one of the most progressive and responsible corporates in the UK. It takes an immense effort to do this on the part of each one of our people, every single day, who all live and breathe our principles.”
The chair of Cheshire and Warrington LEP was also honoured.
Christine Gaskell
Christine Gaskell has been made a CBE for her services to business and the community.
Christine, who was appointed the partnership’s first chair in 2011, was previously awarded an MBE in the 2012 New Year’s Honours for services to training and apprenticeships.
During her time at the Cheshire and Warrington LEP she has overseen £0.5bn funding programme for economic and regeneration projects; the creation of the Cheshire Science Corridor; and has led on the Strategic Economic Plan which details the ambition of doubling the size of Cheshire and Warrington’s economy to £50bn by 2040.
She said: “I am highly appreciative of the work of all my colleagues, they are committed and passionate in driving our region forward and quite simply it is a pleasure to work with them.
“While much has been achieved I am certain that we can go further in promoting Cheshire and Warrington as an outstanding place to live, work, study, invest and visit.”
Christine spent much of her career in the motor industry, including 17 years as a member of the board at Bentley Motors Ltd, with responsibility for 4,000 employees across the world.
Saeed Atcha from Bolton has been awarded an MBE for services to young people and to the community in Greater Manchester.
The 22-year-old set up his own magazine, Xplode, when he was just 15 to tackle social issues and help young people increase their job prospects.
It has a readership of 50,000 across Greater Manchester, with over 100 volunteers, and has helped train and give work experience to over 3,000 people.
Saeed plans to train over 10,000 people in Manchester in employability skills and has hosted training sessions around the country, producing a job tools kit.
He said: “For me, receiving this is unimaginable. I don’t take time to reflect, I always want to conquer the next challenge but this serves as a tap on the shoulder to say, ‘well done, now push further and faster for what you believe in’ and what I’d say is don’t underestimate the importance of that tap on the shoulder to young people.
“I can’t take all of the credit for this honour. My incredible team and supportive family really deserve this award for supporting me through many steep learning curves that a young CEO faces. It mustn’t have been easy for them.
Dr Andrew Michael Dickson from Bolton was awarded an MBE for services to business and to the community.
After running a successful award-winning travel agency he became founder and volunteer chairman of Bolton FM, the local community radio station.
He said: “I’m thrilled with this award, Bolton FM received the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. The MBE is an individual award but you cannot achieve anything without a great team behind you.”
