Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Our Board

Mike Blackburn OBE
Mike Blackburn OBE
Chair
Jane Boardman - Board Member
Jane Boardman
Board Member
Vanda Murray OBE - Board Member
Vanda Murray OBE
Board Member
Emma Sheldon MBE - Board Member
Emma Sheldon MBE
Board Member
Councillor Elise Wilson - Board Member
Councillor Elise Wilson
Board Member
Councillor Bev Craig
Board Member
Councillor Nazia Rahman
Cabinet Member for Resources, Finance and Transformation
Councillor Jacqueline North
First Deputy (Finance, Resources & Transformation)

Advisory Board

The Growth Company Board is supported by three Advisory Boards with external membership drawn from or approved by The Growth Company Board. The Advisory Boards cover the three main business areas of the organisation:

Richard Topliss (Chair) - Managing Director, Corporate & Commercial Banking, North Region, NatWest

Mark Hughes, Group Chief Executive, the Growth Company

Angela Harrington, Director of Inclusive Economy, Manchester City Council

Jane Hopcroft, Principal, Connell Co-op College

Philip Robinson, Group HR Director, Renold

Cllr Arooj Shah, Leader, Oldham Council

Vanda Murray, (Chair), Chair, Yorkshire Water Services and Marshalls Plc

Michael Hartig, Managing Director of North West and North Wales, Barclays Corporate Banking

Phil Jones, Managing Director of North West and North Wales, Brother UK Limited

Emma Sheldon, GC Board at Healthcare UK

Jonathan Lawson, Director Strategic Partnerships, Faculty of Business, Law and Apprenticeships, Manchester Metropolitan University

Mike Blackburn (Chair), Chair of Marketing Manchester and Manchester’s International Marketing Advisory Board

Joanne Roney, Chief Executive, Manchester City Council

Alice Choi, Chief Operating Officer, McCann Health Medical Communications

Shaun Hinds, Chief Executive, Manchester Central

Adrian Ellis, General Manager, The Lowry Hotel

Professor Jennifer Watling, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for International, Manchester Metropolitan University

Lou Cordwell, Founder and CEO, MagneticNorth

Luke Georghiou, Deputy President and Deputy Vice-Chancellor at The University of Manchester

Robin Phillips, Head of Siemens Advanta Consulting UK

Tom Stannard, Chief Executive, Salford City Council

Ellen Berry, Director England and Cities, British Council

Cllr Arooj Shah, Leader, Oldham Council

Mark Hughes, Group Chief Executive, the Growth Company

There are four subsidiary Boards which retain legal, compliance and other responsibilities for their respective legal entities:

  • The Enterprise Fund Ltd (trading as Business Finance Solutions)
  • Chamberlink Ltd (trading as Business Support Solutions)
  • Challenge 4 Change
  • Recovery Works

In addition, the Group Board has two sub-committees:

  • Audit
  • Remuneration