Jointly, we are leading way ahead

Jul 19 2005 By The Journal

The ability of business leaders to rise to the challenges of their roles is the most critical success factor in today's complex and fast-changing global environment.

That's the view of The Academy for Chief Executives, the national organisation which nurtures leadership competency.

Inspirational leadership requires continuous learning and practice and the Academy's core ethos is that "leaders learn with leaders".

It operates across the country and is made up of over 300 business leaders dedicated to helping each other achieve greater success through peer group learning and effective leadership.

Across the North, the Academy has a thriving membership.

Chief executives' groups operate in both this region and Cumbria and in the North-East there is also the Leaders' Forum for leaders of smaller companies. Membership is open to both private and public sector organisations but leaders must fulfil certain qualification criteria including leading a management structure which has at least local autonomy.

In the North-East, a number of high-profile businessmen and women feature in the membership lists - many of whom have recently been honoured with prestigious regional and national awards for outstanding personal, product or corporate performance.

Nick Jackson, chairman of The Academy for Chief Executives in the North East explained, said: "The Academy has a potent formula; the key is the quality, camaraderie and steerage of the groups themselves.

"We follow a selection procedure to protect the cohesion and vitality of the groups and the Academy has a national programme of vetting guest speakers who are acknowledged nationally and internationally as experts in their field.

"Leadership can be lonely. Through the Academy our members find frank critique and stalwart support from one another and access to advice from leading authorities.

"We meet regularly and members benefit from individual coaching and mentoring sessions which they rate highly.

"Overall our aim is to encourage Academy members to help them grow both themselves and their businesses and to develop and apply their vision.

"In turn, these people are inspiring and mentoring the next generation through their own businesses and The Academy itself.

"The standards that they set for themselves and their businesses are rising and ambitious; they constantly seek higher performance and new opportunities."

Members

SOME of the high-ranking members of The Academy for Chief Executives:

* Brian Manning - chief executive of Esh Group

North East Business of the Year

North East Business Executive of the Year - Durham and Wearside

The Sunday Times Fastest 100

* Will Dracup - CEO and technical director of Nonlinear Dynamics

North East Top Technology Company of the Year

North East Export Award

Frost and Sullivan Product Line Innovation Award 2004

The Sunday Times ARM Tech Track 100

Deloitte and Touche Fast 50 (Northern Region)

* Richard Martin - factory manager of Nestlé, Fawdon

North East Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year

* Fiona Cruickshank - managing director of The Specials Laboratory

North East Small Business of the Year

North East Woman Entrepreneur of the Year

* Stephen Bell

- managing director of Derwent Systems

British Security Industry Association Security Awards - Best New Exporter

A&S Magazine - Best Innovation Award