Links

• Our role
• Background
• The Team
• Advisory Board
• Statutory Board
• Partners

Statutory Board

Michael Stephenson, OBE
Michael started his early career with Vickers PLC holding a number of senior appointments in various divisions, ultimately at Managing Director and Main Board level in the UK and USA.

Returning to his native North East in the 1980s, Michael set up Helena Laboratories subsequently rebranded as Helena BioSciences Europe, where he is still currently Managing Director, now firmly established as one of the leading medical diagnostic and biotechnology companies in the North East and winner of two Queen's Awards for Export Achievement.

Michael is extremely active in the region holding a number of key positions including Chair of Enterprise Development NE Limited, the region's flag ship venture capital company.

Historically, Michael has worked on various assignments for venture capital companies and merchant bankers, such as 3Is and Lazards, operating as non-executive director and chairman for a number of diverse companies both regional and national.

Michael has been a lay member of the University Council since 2002. He has served on several University Committees including the Redundancy Committee and as a Council opted member of Van Mildert College Council. He is a member of several University Committees including the Finance and General Purposes Committee, and is Chair of John Snow College Council. He is the University's nominated member on the DSU Trustee Board Finance Sub-Committee.

Andrew Mitchell - Chief Executive
Andrew was educated at Oxford and INSEAD. Following an early career in the oil industry, investment banking and management consultancy, he founded and ran his own business for almost 10 years. More recently, he was an executive director and shareholder in one of the UK's most successful university spin-out companies, which was sold in 1997 to a large US corporation.

He also established a £25m venture capital fund – targeted at early stage technology businesses – and has served as a non-executive director for a number of high growth companies. For five years, until 2008 he was chief executive of VC business development company NStar.

Chris Thompson
A former North East Businessman of the Year, Chris is Group CEO of the Express Group and is shareholder, investor, director or chairman of more than 20 enterprises across the North East. Chris is former One North East board member and a founder member of The Alchemists, Entrepreneurs Forum and TDR training.

Mark Bridgeman
Mark Bridgeman spent almost 20 years working in the fund management industry, for Schroders PLC. Over this time he worked both as an analyst and fund manager and for the last few years was Global Head of Research. He lived and worked for Schroders all over the world, including 3 years in Sydney, 2 years in New York and a number of years based in London but travelling to Emerging Markets. He left Schroders at the end of 2008 and is now based in Northumberland running his own family farming business. Since leaving Schroders he has also taken on a number of non executive and advisory roles in the investment industry.

Jason Hobbs - Finance Director
Jason graduated from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne with a BA in Economics and Accounting. He is a member of the ICAEW, having qualified as a chartered accountant during his career at Ernst & Young.

After a period at Black & Decker’s manufacturing plant in County Durham, Jason joined The Health Clinic, a venture capital backed company specialising in ophthalmology, laser vision correction and other health related services. As Corporate Finance Director, he was a key member of the team that successfully floated the company on the London Stock Exchange, following a period of high growth and a nationwide store opening programme.

Jason worked for Optical Express following its successful takeover of The Health Clinic, before joining NStar in June 2004.

Chris Lendrum
After 36 years with Barclays Chris retired where he was latterly Group Vice Chairman and had been previously Chief Executive of Corporate Banking prior to which he had held a number of senior positions. Chris is also a board member for County Durham Community Foundation.

Events