Humber Freeport appoints Simon Green as CEO and announces board line-up
TOP TEAM: The Humber Freeport board members
By Simon Bristow
Humber Freeport has appointed Simon Green as permanent CEO and announced its board line-up.
Mr Green has served as Humber Freeport’s Interim CEO since April, steering the organisation through a successful launch period which has already seen major inward investments secured.
He has now been appointed Humber Freeport’s permanent CEO, leading the delivery of the company’s work to attract significant investment and its core workstreams of innovation, decarbonisation and skills.
The Humber Freeport Company has also confirmed the membership of its board, featuring prominent figures from the private and public sectors.
Humber Freeport chair Simon Bird said: “The announcement of Simon as our permanent CEO, together with confirmation of our board membership, marks another key step forward for Humber Freeport.
“Simon has steered the organisation’s development successfully over the past few months. His permanent appointment recognises the excellent progress that has been made in that time and the considerable experience and expertise he brings to the role.
“We’re also delighted to have brought together an excellent board, made up of highly-respected private and public sector leaders who have the collective skills, knowledge and passion to support our ambitions.
“These are exciting times for the Humber, as we look to maximise the region’s huge potential and attract transformative inward investment driving economic growth and job creation.”
Mr Green moves permanently to his role at Humber Freeport from North Lincolnshire Council, where he served as its deputy chief executive.
He has over 30 years’ experience in development and corporate governance, having worked for public and private sector organisations in the North, Midlands and abroad.
Throughout his career, Mr Green has overseen major projects, including in the fields of housing, transport, energy and higher education.
More recently, he has taken on corporate culture and governance roles and throughout his career has striven to build alignment and partnership working as the bedrock of achievement.
Alongside the announcement of Mr Green as permanent CEO, Humber Freeport has confirmed the membership of the freeport board.
Headed by Mr Bird, who is also Humber Director at Associated British Ports (ABP), the board is made up of representatives from some of the region’s most important and influential organisations.
In addition to Mr Bird and Mr Green, the board members are:
Jo Barnes, managing director, Sewell Estates.
Carolina Borgstrom, director of economy, environment and infrastructure, North East Lincolnshire Council.
Alex Codd, assistant director, economic development and regeneration, Hull City Council.
Professor Neal Juster, vice chancellor, University of Lincoln.
Alan Menzies, executive director of planning and economic regeneration and acting chief executive, East Riding Council.
Stephen Parnaby OBE, deputy chair, Hull and East Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership.
Patrick Pogue, group director, growth and innovation, px Group.
Marcus Walker, development director, Able UK.
Further private sector appointments to the board are expected to be announced soon.
Mr Green said: “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to build on the strong foundations which have already been laid by Humber Freeport in securing significant inward investment and shaping the skills, decarbonisation and innovation agendas.
“The Humber has a compelling role to play in UK plc, driving economic growth as a global gateway for trade and investment, and leading the drive for industrial decarbonisation.
“Working closely with our chair and board members, and with regional partners, I’m looking forward to continuing to harness the benefits of freeport status to unlock new opportunities for investment and growth.”
Humber Freeport was officially launched earlier this year, with the aim to drive hundreds of millions of pounds of investment and create at least 7,000 new jobs.
Since its launch, significant investments have been announced in Humber Freeport tax sites in Hull and Goole.
These investments announced have included Finnish company Metsä Tissue’s plans to build the UK’s largest tissue paper mill in Goole, creating more than 400 jobs on site.
At Saltend Chemicals Park – part of the Hull East tax site – Pensana is investing more than £150m in a rare earth processing facility, while Meld Energy plans to invest £180m in a green hydrogen production facility.
Humber Freeport has also allocated almost £25m in seed capital funding to seven key projects to further stimulate growth and create hundreds of jobs, underlining the benefits the freeport is delivering across the region.
For more information on Humber Freeport, visit www.humberfreeport.org