North East BIC appoints Brett Griffiths as Chief Executive

The North East BIC has appointed Brett Griffiths as its new chief executive officer. He joins from consumer products group BIC.

Griffiths will take up the post on 1 October, succeeding long-serving leader Paul McEldon as he moves towards retirement. He brings more than 26 years of commercial leadership experience to one of the North East's larger business support and flexible workspace providers.

His career has spanned Africa, the Middle East, the United Kingdom and Northern Europe. At BIC, he led the company's North Europe commercial division before moving into the regional support organisation.

Originally from South Africa, Griffiths moved with his family to County Durham in 2020. Alongside his corporate career, he has served as a volunteer board member at Enactus UK, part of an international non-profit organisation that works with university students on sustainable entrepreneurship projects with social aims.

The leadership change comes as the North East BIC prepares for its next phase. The organisation supports businesses with advice and workspace, placing it at the centre of the region's small business ecosystem.

In his first comments on the appointment, Griffiths linked the move to the organisation's social purpose as well as its commercial role in the regional economy.

"The North East BIC is a purpose-driven organisation, which aligns perfectly with my values, and I look forward to working with our talented team to build upon its fantastic legacy. It's a really exciting time for the organisation and the North East region.

"We can see accelerating commercial confidence and inward investment in the North East of England. However, if these developments are to truly deliver for the region, then we must ensure that the benefits are felt across our communities, and this is why organisations such as the North East BIC are so important.

"Over the coming years, the organisation is set to play a pivotal role in providing the support and workspace required to help the region's businesses start up, scale and grow. It's a commercial organisation with such a positive social impact, and that was my catalyst to come here.

"I want to thank Paul McEldon for his outstanding leadership and unwavering commitment over many years. The strength, reputation and impact of the North East BIC today are a testament to his vision, and I am grateful that he will support a smooth transition as he begins his well-earned retirement from the BIC," said Brett Griffiths, chief executive officer, North East BIC.

Regional role

The North East BIC combines workspace provision with support for companies at different stages of development, giving it a distinct place in the regional business landscape. That makes leadership succession important for an organisation whose remit spans start-ups, smaller firms and businesses seeking room to expand.

Griffiths' background is rooted in senior commercial leadership rather than the public sector or local government. That may shape the organisation's strategy at a time when smaller businesses continue to face pressure from a weak economy and wider uncertainty.

The board said the appointment reflects those conditions, pointing to Griffiths' experience in business growth and social impact as a fit with the organisation's dual commercial and community role.

"We are delighted that Brett has agreed to join the North East BIC as our new chief executive.

"Throughout his distinguished career, he has become one of the most respected figures in his field, demonstrating an incredible ability to drive both business and social growth.

"At a time when global uncertainty and a strained economy can impact the development and growth of SMEs and their subsequent scale-up, Brett will bring the skills and commitment needed to drive forward our emerging strategy. This will help us build upon the successes that the North East BIC has achieved so far.

"On behalf of the board, I welcome Brett to the team and look forward to forging a dynamic future together," said Carrick.

Leadership transition

McEldon's departure marks the end of a lengthy period of leadership at the organisation. Griffiths acknowledged that transition directly, saying the North East BIC's current strength and standing reflected his predecessor's vision and that McEldon would support the handover.

The change comes against a backdrop of increased attention on regional growth, inward investment and whether local communities benefit from that activity. Griffiths' remarks suggest he sees the organisation's role as bridging that gap by helping businesses access support and premises while maintaining a social purpose.

That balance between commercial operation and wider community impact remains a recurring theme in how the North East BIC presents its work. As Griffiths put it: "It's a commercial organisation with such a positive social impact, and that was my catalyst to come here."