Vice-Chancellor takes up business post

VICE-Chancellor John Brooks has been appointed to the board of the North West Development Agency by the Minister for Competitiveness Stephen Timms.

Professor Brooks is one of five new appointees to the agency which commands a £2.3 billion budget for economic development for 2007-08.

He joins Peter Allen, chair of the National Farmers Union, Robert Hough, executive director of Peel Holdings, Tony McDermott, leader of Halton Council and Leader of Trafford Council Susan Williams as new faces in the NWDA leadership team.

John Brooks is an increasingly influential player in the region and has significantly strengthened MMU's business and enterprise links since joining the University in 2005.

In his previous job at the University of Wolverhampton he chaired a regeneration project after the closure of Rover, which involved infrastructure development and small business support. He also helped to create Bodycote-SHU Coatings.

He chairs the Board of the Equality Challenge Unit, and is on the boards of Universities UK, the Oxford Road Corridor Partnership and the Universities & Colleges Employers Association.

Stephen Timms said: "Northwest Regional Development Agency will be able to use the knowledge and expertise these appointments bring to help the region deliver its Regional Economic Strategy to boost productivity and create jobs and prosperity."

The NWDA is a business-led organisation, which provides strategic leadership to promote economic development, enterprise and regeneration, tackling economic differences within their regions as well as driving up the performance of the regions as a whole.

Bryan Gray, Chairman of the NWDA, said: "The NWDA Board plays a vital role in building a dynamic, international economy in England's Northwest. I am delighted to welcome these new appointments, which will bring with them valuable experience and expertise and help to maintain the high quality of our Board. I look forward to working with them to continue the economic prosperity of the Northwest."

John took up his three-year appointment on 14 December.