Member Article

IoD appoints entrepreneur Ammar Mirza CBE as branch chair

The Institute of Directors (IoD) has appointed serial entrepreneur Ammar Mirza CBE as chair of its newly formed North East (North) branch.

Ammar is an award-winning leadership and business management consultant through his company AmmarM (UK). He has investments across many sectors and industries and helped to establish hundreds of new businesses.

As chairman and founder of not-for-profit Asian Business Connexions CIC, Ammar has made a significant social and economic impact.

He is a board member of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (NELEP), chair of Newcastle Progression Forum, visiting professor of innovation and enterprise at Newcastle University Business School, chair of the Federation of Asian Business and founder of the SME Centre of Excellence.

The appointment follows the merger of the IoD’s Yorkshire and North East regions to create a powerful lobbying voice for the North. The enlarged region has six branches that support local business communities.

Karl Pemberton, managing director of Thornaby-based Active Chartered Financial Planners, was named as chair of the North East (South) branch, which covers the Tees Valley, last month. The other four branches are North, East, South and West Yorkshire.

Ammar Mirza said: “I am excited to be appointed and look forward to making a positive impact. I want to work collaboratively with local businesses to promote our dynamic and innovative region, to ensure its voice is heard in the corridors of power and to further enhance the IoD’s offer.”

Jon Geldart, IoD regional chair, said: “I’m very much looking forward to working with Ammar. His track record in business speaks for itself. This is an exciting time for the IoD in the North East and Ammar’s enthusiasm and passion for business will help us to inspire even more business leaders.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Richard Abbott .