22 | Tees Business
TO P O F
THE
league
RE V E A LED :
RE S U LTS OF OU R A N N UA L
P OLL ON TE E S R E G IO N ’S
M O ST IN SPIRIN G
BU S IN E S S LEA D E RS
It’s the results of our annual poll that
always create a stir among the thriving
Tees business scene – and we have a third
different winner in three years.
We asked Tees business leaders to vote for
their local counterparts who most inspire
them. Votes were received for almost
100 different businesspeople, all creating
inspiration in their own ways.
Ben Houchen - the Tees Valley
mayor was voted the region's
most inspiring business
leader by those who drive the
region's economy.
Here’s our countdown of the top 10 (Figures
in brackets indicate position in 2017)...
7th (7th)
10th (New Entry into Top 10)
AL ASTA I R
P OWE L L
FRA N S CA LJE
PD Ports, Middlesbrough
It says much for the
impact Calje is having
in his role as chief
executive officer of PD
Ports that he’s made
our top 10 having been
appointed only at the
start of last year. The
Dutchman now counts
himself as an adopted Teessider, having
joined PD Ports’ senior executive team 10
years ago.
Having started his career in Rotterdam,
he gained experience in Europe and the
USA before moving to Teesside. He was
instrumental in the successful strategic
transformation of Teesport’s container
platform, which has led to consistent positive
growth in container volumes through the
acquisition of new business, affirming PD
Ports’ position as a leading player in UK
portcentric logistics.
9th (New Entry)
K ATY PARKINSON
& C L A IRE PRESTON
Sound Training, Middlesbrough
This dynamic duo fly the flag for female
business leaders as the first of seven women
in our top 30, a big step-up from last year’s
disappointing showing of just three. Formerly
employed within Middlesbrough Council’s
Katy Parkinson & Claire Preston.
education authority, Parkinson developed a
unique teaching programme, Lexonik, that
improves literacy levels and life outcomes,
while her fellow director Preston has been
the driving force in expanding the company
to now employ around 100 teaching and
administrative staff across the country from
their base in Boho Four. After much success
in the UK, they’ve now made a breakthrough
in the USA and the Far East.
8th (New Entry)
K AR L
PEM B ERTO N
Active Chartered
Financial Planners,
Stockton
Pemberton returned
to the family financial
firm when his father
was ill and has been
the driving force behind transforming Active
from a small concern to a fast-growing
institution that works with high-wealth
individuals and thriving businesses across
Teesside, the North-East and Yorkshire.
Recently returned from a second excursion
to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro.
Cleveland Cable
Company,
Middlesbrough
Where would
Powell finish on this list if he had the same
profile as some of the others? Instead, he
shuns publicity, preferring to keep out of
the spotlight and let his company’s hugely
impressive figures do all the talking. He set
up Cleveland Cable Company in 1978 with
brother Michael and they’ve made it the UK’s
largest cable distributor. The firm’s latest
annual results revealed profits to April 2017
surged 144% to £28m on sales of £251m.
Topping all Teessiders in the Sunday Times
Rich List, Powell also owns the Keys bar,
restaurant and nightclub in Yarm.
6th (6TH)
ST E VE C O C HR AN E M B E
Psyche, Middlesbrough