IN THE HEADLINES
Ken Nelson Appointed Chairman of InterTradeIreland
orthern Ireland businessman, Ken Nelson, has been appointed as
Nchairman of InterTradeIreland by the North South Ministerial Council.
Chief executive of Local Economic Development Company( LEDCOM) Ltd, one of Northern Ireland’ s leading social enterprises, Ken has more than 25 years’ experience working closely with entrepreneurs, startup companies, small businesses and social enterprises. During his career with LEDCOM, Ken has had regular involvement with crossborder trade development activities for micro enterprises and small businesses.
Thomas Hunter McGowan, CEO for InterTradeIreland, commented:“ We welcome Ken and know that his breadth of experience within the economic development sector will add value to InterTradeIreland’ s offering. He has supported SMEs right across the industry, from business incubation, managed workspace development and social entrepreneurship through to small business growth.
Ken, who lives in Ballyclare, is married with six children, also has more than 22 years’ experience working as an economic development advisor to local government. He is a regular speaker at economic development and entrepreneurship conferences locally, nationally and internationally, as well as writing various columns on business issues for a local newspaper.
Commenting on his appointment, Ken said:“ I understand the importance of the crossborder market, having worked in this area for a number of years, stretching back to my early career in the textile industry.
“ I hope to provide further strategic direction to the organisation, as I work closely with the other members of the board and the employees to drive InterTradeIreland forward in these uncertain times.”
Ken has a BA in Business Studies, MBA and MSc in Human Resource Management as well as being a Chartered Manager( CMgr) and Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute( FCMI). He was one of the founding directors and former chairman of Enterprise Northern Ireland, the association of NI’ s local enterprise centres.
In 2010 he was the sole Northern Ireland recipient of the Queen’ s Award for Enterprise Promotion and is a voluntary member of the board of directors of three social enterprises.
Jean-Christophe Novelli to open restaurant at City Quays
One of the world’ s bestknown and most successful chefs is to take the helm of Belfast Harbour’ s brand new hotel and signature restaurant development at City Quays, it was confirmed.
Belfast Harbour said multiMichelinstarred and 5 out of 5 AA Rosette awardwinning chef JeanChristophe Novelli has chosen City Quays to open his first and only restaurant on the island of Ireland, which will form part of the new £ 25 million Marriott Hotel.
The fourstar AC Hotel by Marriott Belfast is Belfast’ s newest waterfront hotel development which will feature the landmark 104seat restaurant, as well as bar, lounge, gym, meeting rooms and almost 190 luxury bedrooms.
The stunning new restaurant will open its doors once the hotel is completed in the first quarter of 2018 as‘ JeanChristophe Novelli at City Quays’.
Featuring a double height glazed façade with waterfront views across Belfast Lough, the exclusive restaurant will offer a brasserie menu with all the French flair associated with the UK’ s favourite French chef. Novelli will be in Belfast in March to reveal more details about his plans.
MBE joy for Deloitte’ s Jackie Henry
J
ackie Henry, senior partner of Deloitte in Belfast, received her MBE at a recent ceremony in Buckingham Palace. Mrs Henry was awarded the honour in the Queen’ s birthday honours list for services to the Northern Ireland Economy.
Based in Belfast, she leads Deloitte’ s public sector consulting business in Northern Ireland and is an active member of the local business community, sitting on the CBI Council and its Public Sector Reform Committee as well as chairing the steering group for the Belfast delegation to the MIPIM investment conference in Cannes.
She has been one of the driving forces behind the rapid growth of Deloitte’ s Belfast Delivery Centre, which aims to grow its workforce to more than 1,000 in the coming years.
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