INSPIRATEES
Yasmin Khan
26th ( new entry ) Lou Tonner Wander Films , Middlesbrough This listing is a sign that Lou , Wander ’ s chief operating officer and former MD , is stepping reluctantly out from the shadows of her business partner Chloë Clover , the firm ’ s public face . The pair were once members of girl-band Arcane 39 . Now they ’ re on-song for commercial filmmaking success .
My Top 3 – Lou Tonner |
1 . |
Kimberley Turner |
2 . |
Bruce Slater |
3 . |
Alison McGee |
27th ( new entry )
Caroline Theobald CBE
Power of Women & Bridge Club A founding director of the Power of Women campaign and the North East Initiative on Business Ethics ( NIBE ), Caroline is the owner of Bridge Club , which connects early-stage growth entrepreneurs to money management and new markets . She was appointed a CBE in 2016 for services to business and entrepreneurship .
28th ( 20th ) Lee Flanagan Bespoke Financial , Stockton Born in Middlesbrough ’ s Whinney Banks estate , former non-league footballer Lee then battled addiction and ultimately became homeless .
But he ’ s bounced back to become principal of financial protection firm Bespoke , building one of the north ’ s most successful financial service franchises with a mantra of “ little bricks build big castles ”.
29th ( 29th ) Yasmin Khan Halo Project , Middlesbrough An advisor to the Welsh government regarding violence against women , domestic abuse and sexual violence , Yasmin is the founder and chief officer of the charity , the Halo Project .
Originally from Essex but having moved to Middlesbrough nearly 30 years ago , Yasmin started her career in banking before moving into the fields of diversity , social inequality and injustice . Her efforts were recognised as the only winner of gongs at the first two Tees Businesswomen Awards .
BUBBLING UNDER
Inspiring - Nikki Sayer ( centre ) with Savannah Marshall and Abdul Shakeel .
30th ( 15th ) Nikki Sayer Casper Customs , Middlesbrough Nikki smashed into our top 30 for the first time last year , having won the Breaking the Mould category at the Tees Businesswomen Awards .
A director of Middlesbrough ’ s Casper Shipping , heading up its customs division , Nikki ’ s career began as a youth trainee at British Steel . She worked in Dubai and Australia before joining Casper – one of Teesside ’ s oldest companies – while serving as the first female chair of the North-East branch of the Institute of Chartered Shipbrokers and founding the North East School of Shipping to ensure young people are ready for a career within the sector .
My Top 3 – by Laura Tarran ( Racz Group ) |
1 . |
Nikki Sayer |
2 . |
Dean Benson |
3 . |
Lee Flanagan |
Those just outside the top 30 : Imran Anwar ( AltLabs ), Shak Asghar ( Nudl ), Bob Cuffe ( various ), David Dixon ( Teesside University ), Steve Dougan ( Teesside University ), Lee Hutchinson ( Double Eleven ), Garry Lofthouse ( Applied Integration ), John McGee ( Durata ), Vicki Jackson-Smith ( J & B Recycling ), Michael Poole ( Michael Poole ), Anne Preston ( Prestons of Potto ), Dale Smith ( WoodSMITH ), Peter Snaith ( Womble Bond Dickinson ), Anne Stonehouse ( Assist ), Phil Teasdale ( Enterprise Made Simple ), Peter Turner ( Cocoon & Bauer ).
The voice of business in the Tees region | 41