Insight 42 - Magazine - Page 9
Five business leaders to join
Hertfordshire Futures Board
F
ive outstanding business leaders
from across retail, life sciences,
film and TV and finance have been
appointed to Hertfordshire Futures main
Board. This new intake will strengthen the
Board’s corporate credentials as it sets the
future economic direction for the county.
Employees from two major brands, Aldi
and ABN AMRO, will now be represented
on the board alongside representatives
from Hertfordshire’s key sectors.
Hertfordshire Futures business-led Board
is responsible for setting the overall
strategic vision and priorities for economic
development in the county. Its board
comprises representatives from business,
education, local government and the
voluntary sector. Due to a number of its
business Board Members reaching the
end of their terms of office, Hertfordshire
Futures sought to refresh its corporate
membership. Following an extensive
recruitment campaign which completed
earlier this month, five candidates have
been appointed to the Board.
They are:
CELIA TAYLOR: Celia is co-founder and
CEO of Distant Voices Group, a television
and digital content production company in
Stevenage that focuses on finding diverse
voices, new stories and innovative content
for a mainstream audience. Celia has a
track record of success in broadcast and
production including BBC and Sky.
DR JOHN HOWIE: John is co-founder of
Hertfordshire-based Lintbells, founded
almost two decades ago to provide
pets and their owners with scientifically
supported nutritional supplements.
Lintbells’ products are now sold under
the YuMOVE brand umbrella, including
the UK’s number one joint mobility
supplement for dogs and cats. John is also
a Deputy Lieutenant to the Lord Lieutenant
of Hertfordshire, a Kings Trust Enterprise
Fellow and a development council member
at Wadham College, Oxford University.
DR STEPHEN WARD: Stephen joined
the Cell and Gene Therapy Catapult in
2013 and now holds the role of Chief
Technology Officer. In this position, he
focuses on the organisation's technology
development strategy. Prior to this, he held
the positions of Chief Operating Officer and
Chief Manufacturing Officer, during which
time he led the organisation's strategic
manufacturing, supply chain, skills and
industrial growth programmes. He brings
to the organisation over two decades
of specialised cell and gene therapy
expertise from his career in biological
medicine research, development and
manufacturing. He is an Executive Board
member of the CGT Catapult and deputy
chair of the Medicines Manufacturing
Industry Partnership.
STEWART VINCENT: Stewart is a Store
Operations Director with 15 years of
broad retail industry experience, having
worked for leading companies including
Aldi, Marks & Spencer, and Asda. He has
served on strategic committees, led crossfunctional teams, and driven impactful
retail innovations, such as introducing
AI-powered autonomous stores. Currently,
Stewart is pursuing an MBA at Warwick
Business School to complement his
professional achievements and deepen his
expertise in strategy, innovation, and ESG.
VI DAVDA: Vi is Managing Director, Global
Head of Bond Origination at ABN AMRO. An
experienced leader, Vi brings an almost 20year track record in banking at ABN AMRO,
Barclays and J.P. Morgan. She supports
clients in accessing debt capital markets
across Europe and the UK, working across
the corporate and financial institution
sectors. She has a strong track record
in sustainability, working closely with
clients on ESG strategy and financing. She
serves as a member of ABN AMRO UK’s
Sustainability Acceleration Circle and
chairs the bank’s UK ESG Summits.
All Board Members are unremunerated
and give their time voluntarily to provide
the strategic oversight and high level of
scrutiny of major funding decisions for
the county. The appointments come at
a crucial time for Hertfordshire Futures
as it develops a new Economic Strategy
with the Board overseeing its delivery.
This strategy is set to align with the
Government’s Invest 2035: the UK’s
modern industrial strategy, which aims to
create long-term, inclusive, secure, and
sustainable growth.
Business board members have a set term
of office of three years with the option to
be elected for a second term, also up to
three years. Due to the exceptionally high
calibre of the new intake, Hertfordshire
Futures is reviewing its governance to
increase the size of the Board to retain the
expertise of some of its existing business
board members.
Adrian Hawkins OBE, Chairman,
Hertfordshire Futures: “We had an
exceptionally strong pool of candidates,
and I'm delighted that all those who were
invited to join the Board have accepted.
They are joining Hertfordshire Futures at a
time of strength and will ensure the voice
of business is at the heart of ambitious
plans to accelerate local economic growth.
This aligns with Hertfordshire’s strengths
in sectors such as life sciences, creative
industries, advanced manufacturing and
business/financial services which are
pivotal to the UK’s growth priorities.”
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