Tim Newns, the CEO of Manchester’s inward investment agency MIDAS, has been appointed as MD for Levelling Up at the Office for Investment.
Newns, who joined MIDAS in 2005 and has been Chief Executive since 2011, will now focus on overseeing the Office for Investment’s regional expansion, as well as driving investment into every part of the country.
He will depart from MIDAS to take up this new role, having helped Greater Manchester attract more than £6 billion in investment in the last decade alone, making it the most invested-in city in the UK outside London.
Commenting on his appointment, Newns said: “It has been incredible to be part of Manchester’s successful growth story over the last 17 years at MIDAS, working with some truly inspirational people from across the public, private and academic sectors and seeing true transformation across the city-region.
“Although not an easy decision to leave MIDAS, the chance to take a broader geographical approach and work with the OFI to attract transformational projects and capital that can truly impact Levelling Up was an opportunity I simply had to take.
“I am passionate about the Levelling Up agenda and am really looking forward to working with my new colleagues, Lord Grimstone, and the other nations and regions of the UK to attract even greater high-value FDI across the UK.”
Lord Grimstone, Minister for Investment, added: “The Office for Investment aims to drive top-tier investment into all four corners of the UK, boosting local economies and supporting jobs… Tim’s appointment is a testament to this – given his successful track record at delivering investment across the North West – as is our renewed focus on attracting investment”.
Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, concluded: “Tim has done an outstanding job for Greater Manchester and has helped secure investment which has created thousands of jobs. We are sorry to lose him, but he goes to a role where he can continue to support our ambitions where we will be working with him closely.”
