Chairman
Hugh Morgan Williams is Chair of North East Access to Finance (NEA2F).
He was also appointed as Chair of the Northern Way in June 2009. The Northern Way is a unique cross-regional initiative, led by the three northern Regional Development Agencies. Hugh oversees a Steering Group, bringing together business and political leaders from across the North of England, to work together on issues central to the economic development of the North, and which cut across regional boundaries.
Hugh is a prominent business figure, with significant experience of working within the regions, nationally and internationally. As founder and current Chairman of Canford Group plc, based in Washington, he has built a £20 million business employing over 230 people. After starting a career as a journalist, he became News Editor of Radio Tees in Stockton and Chairman of Galaxy Radio. He is Governor of CILT, the National Centre for Languages, and a lay member of the Durham University Council. He is also President of the Business Europe and SME committee.
Hugh has been a CBI regional spokesman since 1995. He is a former Regional CBI Chairman and has served as Chairman of the CBI National SME Council with additional responsibility for European relations, and as CBI national spokesman on regional and economic issues. He was a Board member of One North East from 1988-2001 and chaired its audit committee. He has also been a member of the North East Industrial Development Board.