Mike Blackburn OBE

Mike is Chair of the Growth Company. He lives in the North West and spent his 36-year career in the private sector working for technology companies, including 25 years at BT and was awarded an OBE for services to the economy in the North West in 2015.

Mike holds a portfolio of non-exec roles including Chair of Dixons Academy Trust, Trustee of the Lowry Theatre, and Dean’s Advisory Council Member for Lancaster University Management School. Mike also sits on the North West advisory board for the Prince of Wales charity, Business in the Community, and was selected as the Prince’s NW Regional Ambassador for 2010/11 and 2011/12. 

As former Chair of the GMLEP, he’s made a huge contribution to Greater Manchester and has been instrumental in the development and implementation of the city-region's Local Industrial Strategy. He remains an Ex-Officio board member.