People: West Midlands Growth Company appoints vice chair; Council’s new CEO starts role; and more

The West Midlands Growth Company, which aims to attract investment, jobs, visitors and businesses to the region, has appointed its non-executive director Liz McKenzie to the new position of vice chair.

The role will support chair Matthew Hammond, and provide further opportunities for the West Midlands Growth Company to draw on the private sector expertise of its board.

McKenzie spent 19 years at global manufacturer Toyota, followed by seven years at national mutual life insurer Wesleyan Assurance Society, where she became chief operating officer and board member.

She is now an angel investor who takes an active role in supporting entrepreneurs.

She is also a non-executive director at organisations including the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce and a regional Building Society, and is a trustee of the Heart of England Community Foundation.

Matthew Hammond, chair of the West Midlands Growth Company, said: “Liz brings a range of expertise to this new role, with in-depth knowledge of key sectors including manufacturing and technology. I’m sure that her enthusiasm and ambition will help us significantly as the Growth Company continues to showcase the region and its successes.

“Liz is becoming vice chair at a time when the Growth Company is really making its mark. The West Midlands Combined Authority has committed to investing £2.5m into the Growth Company for the next two years, supporting our plans to attract more investment and visitors to the region. We have also started working with a range of new commercial partners in the past 12 months, demonstrating the value that the Growth Company brings to businesses located across the West Midlands.”

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Martin Hamilton is to take up his post as the new chief executive of Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council today.

Hamilton said: “This is a fantastic time to be joining the Council as we have so many exciting and innovative projects on the stocks. I really can’t wait to get started. We have a good team here and I am looking forward to leading them through the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.”

Council leader Simon Tagg added: “I am delighted that Martin is joining us. Since his appointment a couple of months ago we have kept in close contact so he will certainly be hitting the ground running. The Council is moving forward with an ambitious programme which includes some very significant projects that will have a positive impact on many of our residents’ lives.

“Martin certainly has the abilities we are looking for in a chief officer and I know he will work closely with Cabinet, elected members, our own staff and our partners in driving forward our exciting growth plans for the borough.”

Meanwhile, the leader paid tribute to John Tradewell who has been acting chief executive for just over 12 months. After today he returns to a full-time role at Staffordshire County Council.

Tagg said: “He is an excellent officer and has guided our council through a challenging year with great professionalism, including successfully overseeing the first all-out elections and playing a crucial part in the selection process for the new Chief Executive. I’m really thankful for the support John has shown me and my Cabinet colleagues. He is a friend of Newcastle and I hope he continues to put the word out for Newcastle in Stafford.”

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Contechs boss Peter Jarvis has been chosen to head-up a new business group for a leading charity which helps transform the lives of disabled and disadvantaged children across the UK.

The Warwick-based businessman has been appointment chairman of the Midlands division of Variety, the Children’s Charity, which this year celebrates its 70th anniversary.

Since its launch in 1949, the charity has raised more than £200m and has improved the lives of almost a million children across the country affected by ill health, poverty and disability.

In his new role, Jarvis will join business leaders from across the region to develop and create a strategy to take the charity forward and help more local children in need of help.

While at the helm of the business group, he will play a key role in helping the charity to double the number of children it supports within the next five years.

“It’s quite a task, but I am confident that it can be achieved,” he said. “This is an incredibly important charity which has helped so many children already, but there are more who are still in need of our support.

“I feel incredibly honoured to have been chosen as chairman for this newly-formed business group and I am confident that the new team will all be able to work together to transform the charity and harness the needs and support that is required here in the Midlands.”