New chair to drive the Humber’s green recovery

NEW CHAIR: Bill Walker

Marketing Humber has appointed a new chair to help drive the region into a new era of green energy prosperity.

Bill Walker has joined the organisation, which promotes the Humber on the national and international stage, and will work closely with managing director Diana Taylor.

He has previously held director-level roles at the Hull Daily Mail and the University of Hull and worked closely with politicians at local, regional and national levels.

Mr Walker’s primary focus will be to build on recent success in promoting the region’s credentials as the natural place to lead the UK’s green recovery.

He said: “It is vital that there is strong political engagement and a powerful voice for business as the region navigates its way through the uncertainty and opportunity of a post-Covid, post-Brexit world, while at the same time piecing together a new, devolved structure of local government.

“As the established place-based marketing organisation in the region, Marketing Humber is trusted, eager and able to represent those interests at those new tables of influence; to champion the role of business in capturing the huge opportunities these radical changes present.”

WORKING TOGETHER: Bill Walker and Diana Taylor

Andy Parkinson, previous chair and retained director of Marketing Humber, will continue to help promote of the region as an industrial cluster which is a global exemplar for decarbonisation. 

He said: “Now more than ever, we need to drive promotion of the region as a place to lead in the UK’s green recovery - a place for investment, growth, and skills development.

“It will be fantastic to add Bill’s experience and strong connections across the North and within London, to increase our voice on the national and international stage.”

Ms Taylor said: “We are delighted to welcome Bill to strengthen the board and lead us through this next transformation within the region.

“This will be part of a series of future changes, including further additions of influential business figures to the board which will strengthen our voice to drive the regional marketing strategy.”