FEATURE
DOWN TO BUSINESS
Positive – Matthew Ord chairs the new board.
New Tees Valley Business Board begins its work
WORDS: DAVE ROBSON PICTURE: CHRIS BOOTH
Positive people with the right message – that’ s how Matthew Ord sees the talented industry leaders chosen to drive forward the Tees economy.
Tees Valley Business Board now has a newly updated 17-strong board – and it’ s ready to get to work.
A private sector-led board representing local business interests, it’ s chaired by LV Logistics company ambassador Matthew Ord, who was appointed in December 2025 following periods as vice and interim chair and has more than 20 years of experience in international trade.
Business boards are independent, businessled groups – often within combined or mayoral authorities – designed to drive local economic growth, help with the creation of jobs and advise on investments.
On Teesside, the board will help shape and guide the thinking of the Tees Valley Combined Authority( TVCA).
And to that end, Matthew says he’ s delighted with the eclectic and talented team he now leads – all volunteers, but all successful business people in their own rights too.
Matthew told Tees Business at the start of the board’ s new four-year term:“ I know I’ ve got outstanding people and I know that we’ ll deliver. These people care about the Tees Valley.
“ I want the business board to be positive people with the right message, promoting the area and talking about the right things, while not hiding away from the challenges we have.
“ This is a region with the ambition to be a powerhouse for the UK economy and where incredible things are already happening.
“ We’ ve got world-leading clean energy projects, the fastest growing digital sector outside London, outstanding education providers and a talented workforce led by passionate and innovative business leaders.
“ We know there are also challenges – no one is hiding away from that – but it is vital that we’ re positive and shout about everything we have to offer and what we can achieve.
“ We’ re not here to simply agree with everything TVCA does, and we’ re certainly not here to oppose everything either. Our role is to offer a constructive, business‐focused perspective— helping to shape decisions and ensure the region is doing the things that genuinely support and strengthen our business community.”
On being appointed chair of the board,
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