The North West Business Leadership Team (NWBLT) are delighted to announce a series of appointments that will oversee the organisation's all-important work going forward.

Stephen Church, EY Markets Leader for the North of England and Office Managing Partner for Manchester, has been appointed to the Board of the North West Business Leadership Team. Stephen replaces Richard Topliss who has recently retired as Regional Managing Director of NatWest after making a significant contribution to the NWBLT over several years.

Jonathan Murphy, Chair of the NWBLT (and CEO of Assura):

"I am delighted that Stephen has agreed to join the Board of the NWBLT. Stephen has a wealth of experience and expertise in sectors crucial to our work and I am looking forward to working with him."

Joëlle Warren, Founder of Warren Partners, remains Deputy Chair of the NWBLT and will continue to champion the Team's diversity work.

The NWBLT's aspiring business leadership groups – the Rising Stars, which works to combat the challenges around gender inequality in the workplace by representing the female voice, and the Diversity Drivers, which comprises of Black and Asian aspiring business leader who are committed to advancing diversity and inclusion in the workplace, have welcomed refreshed leadership in 2023.

Warren Middleton, Manchester Office Senior Partner at KPMG, will be joining Sharon Amesu, Director of SA Consulting, as Co-Chair of the NWBLT's Diversity Drivers. Khurram Hussain, Partner at Warren Partners, has been appointed as Deputy Chair of the group.

Kirsty Rogers, Global Head of ESG and Managing Partner of DWF Manchester Office, will be joining Adam Waller, Manchester Office Senior Partner at PWC, as Co-Chair of the Rising Stars Group with Nicola Kenyon, Partner at Warren Partners, appointed as Deputy Chair of the NWBLT's Rising Stars.

Joëlle Warren, Founder of Warren Partners and Deputy Chair of the NWBLT, will continue to champion the Team's diversity work.

Commenting on the appointments, NWBLT Deputy Chair (and Founder of Warren Partners) Joëlle said:

"The North West Business Leadership Team has long recognised the importance of increasing diversity at the top level of businesses across the region. The Rising Stars Group was established to combat the challenges around gender inequality in the workplace. Our Diversity Drivers are central to our work to increase racial and ethnic diversity in senior positions.

"The appointments announced today are further evidence of our commitment to create an inclusive culture in which talent from all our communities can thrive."