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Manchester's digital presence is its top European asset

Manchester has a European-wide reputation for its forward thinking and progress-driven digital media scene, according to psychologist, author, high-performance executive coach and former NBA athlete, John Amaechi.

John was the first British player to have a career in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the only Brit to have his jersey hang in the United States Basketball Hall of Fame. Last night, the Manchester resident delivered his assessment of the city during the Light A Fire event held for North West business leaders in Manchester.

John said: “Manchester is a bustling city which has a reputation throughout the rest of Europe as a place to watch when it comes to the tech and digital scenes.

“I mentor businesses the world over and everyone I speak to has heard of Manchester – and not just for the football! The city has developed a solid status as a good place to invest and a creative space where the next big idea might just be hiding.

“Most people said that what I achieved in my life was impossible. As a 17-year-old with no sporting experience, I decided to pursue basketball. Six years later, I was playing professionally in America. It’s possible for the most unlikely person to become extraordinary – it just takes incredible focus and dedication. My motivation was never money or fame – I simply wanted to achieve what I had set out to achieve and that mentality translates very easily to business.”

The Light A Fire events are hosted by Daniel Nolan, managing director of theEword, in front of an invite-only crowd comprising North West business people from a variety of sectors.

Daniel said: “As MD of a digital agency that was started and developed in Manchester, I’m very proud to hear John confirm what I’ve thought for a long time – there is nowhere quite like this city!”

John was born in Boston, America, to a British mother before moving to Stockport as a toddler. His basketball career saw him play for teams including the Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic, Utah Jazz and Houston Rockets.

In Britain, he played for the Bronze medal winning, English Commonwealth Games team. His 2007 New York Times Best-selling memoir, Man in the Middle, chronicles his journey from Stockport School boy to NBA star and talks about his career as a gay man in the machismo world of professional sports.

John currently lives in Manchester City Centre and has invested heavily in sports in the surrounding area, founding the Amaechi Basketball Centre in Whalley Range. He was made an OBE in 2011.

In addition to being vice-president of the English Federation for Disability Sport, John is an ambassador for four charities, including NSPCC and Amnesty International and continues to work as working as a sports and social affairs pundit for television and radio. Alongside his unique role as an organisational consultant, John coaches elite individuals and works with institutions of all sizes – including FTSE 250 firms – to assess, manage, maximise and retain human capital.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Graham Vincent .