Chamber Board

Suzanne Burnett
Non Executive Director

Suzanne is Managing Director of Castle Employment Agency in Scarborough which supplies permanent, temporary and contract staff into the commercial, industrial and hospitality sectors.  She is the Chair of the Yorkshire Coast Business Partnership and is also a non-executive director of the Scarborough Ambassadors programme.  She was appointed a Fellow of the Recruitment and Employment Confederation in 2008.

Professor Brian Cantor
Non Executive Director

Brian is Vice-Chancellor of the University of York.  He is an Honorary Professor at Shenyang, Zhejiang and Nanjing Universities, an Honorary Member of the Indian Institute of Metals, a Member of Academia Europea and the World Technology Network, and a Fellow of the Institute of Materials, the Institute of Physics, the Chartered Management Institute and the Royal Academy of Engineering.

Richard Flanagan
Non Executive Director

Richard Flanagan is a chartered surveyor with more than 20 years experience in the York and Yorkshire regional property market, specialising in commercial property agency and development consultancy.  He is a partner with Lawrence Hannah LLP, one of the largest firms of property consultants in York and is the current President of the York and North Yorkshire Chamber.

 

Nigel Foster
Non Executive Director

Nigel is a Director at OVE Arup and Partners in Leeds.  Since 2008 he has been a Governor at the University of Leeds. Nigel is also a Director of Leeds Ahead and Marketing Leeds and is the current President of the Leeds, York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce.

Peter Gilman
Non Executive Director

Peter is the Chairman of the GMI group of companies, a construction and property development business based in Leeds.  Peter was a Director and Vice Chairman of Leeds United Football Club from 1980-96 and a member of the Leeds University Court for a period of 10 years.  He is presently a Director of Walsall Football Club.

Martin Holmes
Non Executive Director

Martin joined the University of Leeds in 2005 and is the University's Marketing Director.  The primary purpose of his role is to lead the development of an integrated marketing capability across the University.  In addition, Martin undertakes a variety of roles building links between the University and the regional business community.

Andrew Lindsay
Non Executive Director

Andrew Lindsay is a director of the commercial law firm, Lupton Fawcett LLP,  in Leeds and is a former President of York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce.  He previously acted as Chair of the Mergers & Acquisitions Practice Group of Geneva Group International, one of the top 10 worldwide networks of independent lawyers, accountants, private banks and management consultants.

 

Gary Lumby MBE
Ex Officio Director

Gary runs Focus on Success Ltd, a management consultancy specialising in helping SMEs improve their sales and profitability and was, until recently Director of Small Business Banking at Yorkshire and Clydesdale Banks.  Gary is an active member of the Yorkshire business community and holds leadership roles in various industry forums.  He is immediate past President of the Leeds, York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce where he is now Vice Chair.

Neil McLean
Non Executive Director

Neil was, until recently, Managing Partner of DLA Piper's office in Leeds.  He is Chair of the Board of Governors of Leeds City College, one of the largest further education colleges in the UK and is also Chair of the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership.

Tom Morton
Non Executive Director

Since January 2010 Tom has been the owner of The Alternative Board (Harrogate), a peer board mentoring and coaching organisation.  Previous to this he was managing partner of PKF in Leeds.  He was President of the Chamber from 2003-2005 and is the current Chair of the Chamber Board.

John Parkin
Non Executive Director

John is the CEO of Leeds Bradford International Airport and has been in his current role since 2007.  His previous roles include CEO of Bristol Airport and Newcastle International Airport.  John is leading the redevelopment of LBA's passenger terminal building and is presently delivering market leading growth in annual passenger numbers for 2011/12.  

Shaun Watts
Ex Officio Director

Shaun is founder and Managing Director of Chameleon Business Interiors in Hull and immediate past President of the York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce.  He is a board member of the York & North Yorkshire and East Riding LEP.  Other positions he holds include non executive director of Welcome to Yorkshire and he is a member of the York St John University external Advisory Board and advisory group member of the York Bondholder scheme

Ian Williams
Executive Director

Ian joined the Chamber in 2001 and he is currently the Executive Director of Business Representation and Policy.   Currently, the majority of Ian's time is spent on secondment to the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) where he is leading on a project to widen private sector business engagement within the LEP.

 

Len Cruddas
Executive Director

Len ran the York and North Yorkshire Chamber for six years until the merger in 2008. He has also worked as an executive director in two PLCs, a chief officer in a city council and as a self-employed consultant. Len will hold the post of interim chief executive whilst the Board recruits a successor to Gary Williamson.

 

Stephen Willis
Non Executive Director 

Stephen is Director of Finance and Resources at Leeds Metropolitan University.  He is also a non-executive director of a number of the university's subsidiary companies including the Chamber and Yorkshire Cricket Club.  He is a governor (and Chair of the Audit Committee) at Leeds City College.    

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