Geoff Ford, Regional Councillor, EEF North East

Apr 6 2010 by Chris Knox, The Journal

Manufacturing group Ford is celebrating its centenary year, having survived two world wars and two fires. Christopher Knox meets Geoff Ford, third-generation chairman and the man known as Mr South Tyneside.

CV

1948-1950: Mortimer Road School, South Shields

1950-1957: Tonstall Preparatory School, Sunderland

1957-1962: Durham School

1962-1968: Served articles at Vasey Oliver & Co, Chartered Accountants, South Shields

1968: Qualified as chartered accountant, employed at George Blair & Co Steel Founders, Newcastle

1970-1972: Transitron UK Ltd, Maidenhead, Berkshire

1972-1973: Burroughs Machines, France

1974: Ford & Co (South Shields) Ltd

1985: Chairman Robert Ford dies, son Geoff takes over as chairman

2003: Chairman of the South Tyneside Committee of the North East Chamber of Commerce.

Chairman of South Tyneside Enterprise Partnership

Vice-chairman of South Tyneside Local Strategic Partnership

2005: Chairman of Society of British Aerospace Companies Regional Strategy Committee

2006: Set up the South Tyneside Manufacturing Forum

2007: Received Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion

Appointed patron of South Tyneside Business Forum

2008: Awarded MBE

2009: Appointed regional councillor – EEF North East