North West Business Leadership Team Announces New Life Time President and Further Strengthens Team

The Board of the North West Business Leadership Team (NWBLT) has announced that Juergan Maier CBE has been recognised as honorary Life President. Juergen joins Sir Alan Cockshaw and Neville Chamberlain CBE, who already hold the title.

NWBLT Chairman Jonathan Murphy made the announcement: 

“Juergen served as North West Business Leadership Team Chairman for six years from 2012 to 2018 and continues to work with us to champion responsible business leadership and collaborate to make a difference.

“I am proud that Juergen has accepted this title that recognises the outstanding contribution he has had made, and continues to make, to the work of the NWBLT and to the economy and communities across the region.”

Juergen Maier CBE, said:  

“I feel honoured to be invited to join the highly regarded North West Business Leadership Team in this capacity, and in that way play my part in helping the team have influence and maximise the value business creates for society.”

Jonathan Murphy also announced that Paul Corcoran, Deputy Chair of the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership and Founder and CEO of Agent has joined the team.

Jonathan said: 

“I have got to know Paul through his role as Deputy Chairman of Liverpool City Region LEP over the last twelve months and am thrilled he is joining the NWBLT as a Member. He brings with him not just his expertise and talent, but also a passion for making a difference.”

Paul is Deputy Chair of Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, co-chair of the LEP’s creative and digital board, vice chair of Liverpool’s Everyman and Playhouse theatres, member of Net Zero NW, and an industry champion for the Policy and Evidence Centre for the Creative Industries. Paul has won the Guardian’s ‘Sustainable Business Leader of the Year’ award and several regional and national accolades for his work and social impact credentials. In 2014, Paul also established Agent Academy CIC, which helps young people kick start careers in the creative, digital and tech industries. Agent Academy has helped over 250 learners secure employment, generating well over £15 million worth of accumulative salaries since its inception.

Paul Corcoran, said: 

“I’m exceptionally proud to have been invited to join the brilliant NWBLT team. NWBLT has an incredible track record of making great things happen and I’m really looking forward to playing my part in the next part of this story.

“Now more than ever, it’s important that good businesses come together with a common ambition of helping our region and its residents prosper. As ever, I’m fully committed to doing what I can to make sure the North West continues to flourish and to help showcase the fantastic work happening right here.”

Kirsty Rogers, Head of ESG and Office Managing Partner at DWF in Manchester, has also recently joined the NWBLT. Kirsty is an employment law expert and she is highly recommend for her client focussed approach to the delivery of legal services and coordinated solutions. She has over 25 years’ experience and has won various awards for work on inclusion and diversity particularly in relation to neurodivesity and gender.

Kirsty said: 

“I am delighted to be joining the NWBLT at this incredibly important time for the North West Region.   I am keen to contribute to, and collaborate with, other business leaders to help to deliver sustainable prosperity for this region.”

Two new representatives of member organisations have also joined the Team:

Thomas Birk, Vice President UK and Ireland/Managing Director, BASF. Thomas was born in Loerrach, Germany, in 1980. He studied Business Administration at the Cooperative State University (BA) in Loerrach and Economics at the University of Heidelberg.  Thomas has been at BASF since 2008 in a variety of different roles based in Germany and the USA. He has recently taken over as Vice President UK & Ireland/  Managing Director, BASF plc based in their new offices in Stockport.

Jessica Bowles, Director of Strategy at Bruntwood –Jessica joined Bruntwood in 2016 helping to support the company’s ambitions for long term growth, in particular in creating new ‘Innovation Districts’ and creating the greatest positive impact in our cities and communities.   As Director of Strategy and member of the Bruntwood Group board her focus is particularly on the business’s external relationships, opportunities for partnering to create thriving cities and Bruntwood’s ESG agenda.