'We must search for new leaders'

Nov 20 2006 By Graeme King, The Journal

The head of Newcastle Business School has called for the North-East to adopt a coherent leadership strategy. Paul Croney, dean of the business school which is part of Northumbria University, said there was currently no proper programme to develop existing leaders, nor to identify and nurture the next generation.

He said the region needs to act now to avoid suffering a slump in the number of business leaders coming through the ranks to take on top executive roles. Following research into the subject carried out by Jane Turner, the business school's associate dean for executive development, Mr Croney said it was time the region put together a strategy to tackle the leadership issue.

His comments followed a workshop at the North East Economic Forum in Sedgefield on Friday, entitled `World Class Leadership: developing future leaders in the North-East.'

It featured contributions from CBI regional director Sarah Green, the BBC's chief operating officer Caroline Thompson, Middlesbrough mayor Ray Mallon and NECC chief executive James Ramsbotham.

Newcastle Business School (NBS) is about to move to Northumbria's new campus on the site of the former Warner cinema at Manors, and Mr Croney is looking to develop the range of courses he offers. He said: "NBS has identified the key factors facing the region in terms of attracting, developing and retaining the leaders of tomorrow in the North-East.

"The region is a fantastic place for business and has very passionate existing leaders, but it's often the case that people come to the North-East and then leave, particularly students who come and study here but seek their future elsewhere.

"As a region we need to adopt a joint strategy to ensure that leadership talent is identified, developed and retained here.

"By working collaboratively with the business community, the region's five universities, local government and regional agencies, we can ensure that the North-East is a place that the world's best leaders want to come to and excel in their roles."

Mr Croney said the idea of a region-wide leadership strategy had grown from the results of Jane Turner's research.

He said: "We talked to chief executives and managing directors in both the public and private sectors and got a sample of 22 top level leaders between November 2005 and June this year."

Mr Croney said one of the key findings was that leaders in the North-East tend to come from a small male-dominated group.

He said: "It's quite a comfortable group, who are all connected. They use the phrase that their group "runs the patch" i.e. the North-East." He concluded: "We need to help nurture future leaders, and for existing leaders, we need executive coaching and mentoring, to work on best practice. And it's about injecting enterprise, creativity and innovation."