MOST INSPIRING BUSINESS LEADERS
Cath Devereux ( 6th )
husband , Russ , who took his own life four years ago .
The solicitor and mum-of-three is the established driving force behind a project helping children to cope with mental health issues , while speaking bravely about the impact suicide had on her life and raising the issue of mental health within the workplace .
7th ( 5th ) Steve Gibson OBE
Gibson-O ’ Neill Group , Middlesbrough The winner of our first Most Inspiring poll back in 2016 , Steve is , of course , best known as the outspoken and hugely popular chairman of Middlesbrough Football Club , having led the team to untold highs and continuing to back the club – at huge personal expense – through much tougher times over the past 15 years .
Boro ’ s chairman since December 1993 , alongside low-profile business partner Mike O ’ Neill , he is also one half of the Gibson-O ’ Neill Group , which includes the five-star Rockliffe Hall Hotel and strongperforming Middlesbrough firm Bulkhaul .
8th ( 7th ) Dean Benson
Visualsoft , Stockton The CEO of a business he co-founded 24 years ago that ’ s grown into the region ’ s largest digital agency , Teesside University graduate Dean Benson is the public face of Stockton ’ s Visualsoft , with a team of 280 developers and digital marketers across three UK locations , as well as Dubai , providing e-commerce platforms .
As a philanthropist , he also donated £ 20,000 of his own money to a digital poverty campaign launched by mayor Andy Preston and the Teesside Charity , while he has since launched his own charity , Tech Equal , addressing digital poverty issues .
9th ( 9th ) Chloë Clover
Wander Films , Middlesbrough Woah ! Aged just 30 , the reigning Tees Businesswoman of the Year is the youngest business leader in our list for a third successive year . Along with partner Lou Tonner ( see “ bubbling under ”), Chloë is one half of the team that ’ s led Middlesbrough-based video marketing
agency Wander Films to a series of high-profile successes , impressive contract wins and awards .
Chloë – known to friends simply as Clover – is the creative director and co-founder of a business that ’ s unapologetically outside the mainstream in words and image . A director of the Power of Women campaign , she also made the prestigious Forbes 30 Under 30 list alongside other young entrepreneurs from across Europe .
10th ( 13th ) Alastair Powell
Cleveland Cable Company , Middlesbrough He actively shuns publicity , but Alastair Powell deserves much recognition for the way he has built Middlesbrough-headquartered Cleveland Cable Company into a global success story , employing 600 staff , around half of them on Teesside . Through the company he and his brother Michael have built into the UK ’ s largest cable distributor , Alastair has donated huge amounts of money to support worthy causes such as the Teesside Charity and Teesside Family Foundation .
11th ( 11th )) Steve Bagshaw CBE
National Horizons Centre , Darlington A new entry at number 11 on our list last year and again just outside the top 10 , for six years Steve was CEO of Fujifilm Diosynth Technology . He is now an industry advisor on the government ’ s Vaccines Task Force , as well as chief industry advisor at Teesside University ’ s National Horizons Centre in Darlington and non-executive director for the Centre for Process Innovation ( CPI ).
12th ( re-entry ) Mark Easby
Better , Middlesbrough The highest new entry in this year ’ s list , Mark is the founder and managing director of Middlesbrough-based brand agency Better , with an impressive client list that includes Visualsoft , PD Ports , Teesworks and NHS England . He also chairs the High Tide Foundation , a charity showcasing job opportunities for the region ’ s young people .
13th ( 10th ) Zoe Lewis
Middlesbrough College Group The first female principal and chief executive of
Middlesbrough College Group , a role she has held for the past eight years , Zoe is the dynamic force behind a commitment to enhancing the region ’ s competitive edge by directly aligning the college ’ s offer to the skills required by employers . The former Middlesbrough College student has managed a turnover of £ 43m and the education of 15,000 students , while leading on the college ’ s recent multi-million-pound digital facility that will transform Teesside ’ s tech scene .
14th ( 20th ) Mike Racz
Racz Group , Wynyard Hungary-born Mike arrived in the UK with no job but he ’ s now one of the UK ’ s largest owners of franchised businesses , with an unashamed ambition to grow the group into the North-East ’ s largest company .
The risk-taking selfstarter now owns 55 Domino ’ s franchises , 19 Costa Coffees , 16 Anytime Fitness gyms , several barber shops , a string of restaurants , a cocktail bar , a digital agency and more . He also employs more than 2,500 people from around 30 different countries .
15th ( new entry ) Nikki Sayer
Casper Shipping , Middlesbrough Smashing into our top 30 for the first time , Nikki was the winner of the Breaking the Mould category at last year ’ s Tees Businesswomen Awards .
A director of Middlesbrough ’ s Casper Shipping , heading up its customs division , Nikki has more than 20 years of experience in the maritime sector . She was the first female chair of the North- East branch of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers and founded the North East School of Shipping to ensure young people are ready for a career within the sector .
She also works with the High Tide Foundation charity , offering unique insight and learning experiences by spending time with many of their students as a volunteer .
16th ( 8th ) Jane Armitage
Jacksons Law Firm , Stockton Enjoying a third year in our top 30 , likeable Jane was crowned our third Tees Businesswoman of the Year in 2020 and was the natural choice to chair the Power
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