Former NWDA chief to lead Greater Manchester’s trade, investment and business growth activity

Mark Hughes MBE has been appointed group chief executive of the newly formed body responsible for spearheading trade, investment, business growth and support in Greater Manchester.

In this role, Hughes, who was the last chief executive of the Northwest Regional Development Agency, will ensure that Greater Manchester’s aspirations for business growth and support will be delivered in line with the objectives of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) and the Local Enterprise Partnership.

This will include the work of inward investment agency, MIDAS; trade and investment services, including UKTI; the Business Growth Hub and Finance for Business. Hughes takes up his position today, Monday 14 January, under the joint chairmanship of Ian Stewart, city mayor of Salford, representing the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Michael Oglesby CBE, chairman of Bruntwood Group, representing the private sector.

Commenting on the appointment, Michael Oglesby CBE 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.”

Mark Hughes MBE 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.”

Ian 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, who is 46 and lives in Warrington, was awarded an MBE for services to business in the North West in the 2013 New Years Honours.