National Levelling Up role for Tim Newns
MIDAS chief executive Tim Newns has been appointed managing director for Levelling Up at the Office for Investment.
The role will see Tim focus on driving investment into every part of the UK and overseeing the regional expansion of the Office for Investment.
It comes after a series of high-profile announcements on the Government’s ambition to level up every part of the UK through inward investment.
Minister for Investment Lord Grimstone said: “The Office for Investment aims to drive top-tier investment into all four corners of the UK, boosting local economies and supporting jobs.
“Tim’s appointment is a testament to this – given his successful track record at delivering investment across the North West – as is our renewed focus on attracting investment, which will increase productivity, economic growth across the country, boost our exports and better our research and development environment.”
Tim Newns has been CEO of MIDAS, Manchester’s Inward Investment Agency since 2011, having initially joined in 2005.
During that period, MIDAS has supported the attraction of over 50,000 jobs from over 700 investment projects, worth in excess of £6bn to Greater Manchester.
Manchester became the most invested in city in the UK outside London over that period and reached 8th in the IBM Global FDI attraction rankings in 2018.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said: “Tim has done an outstanding job for Greater Manchester and has helped secure investment which has created thousands of jobs. We are sorry to lose him, but he goes to a role where he can continue to support our ambitions where we will be working with him closely.
“I would like to thank him for all he has done for Greater Manchester and wish him luck in his new role.”
New MD for Levelling Up at the Office for Investment, Tim Newns said: “It has been incredible to be part of Manchester’s successful growth story over the last 17 years at MIDAS, working with some truly inspirational people from across the public, private and academic sectors and seeing true transformation across the city-region.
“Although not an easy decision to leave MIDAS, the chance to take a broader geographical approach and work with the OFI to attract transformational projects and capital that can truly impact Levelling Up was an opportunity I simply had to take.
“I am passionate about the Levelling Up agenda and am really looking forward to working with my new colleagues, Lord Grimstone, and the other nations and regions of the UK to attract even greater high-value FDI across the UK.”
