A PROMINENT North-East business leader has taken the helm of Teesside University’s governing body.

Alastair MacColl, the chief executive of the BE Group, has taken over as chair of the board of governors having served as its vice chairman for four years.

He is taking over from Sandy Anderson OBE DL who has chaired the board for nine years.

The BE group is a market-leading business services group that works with thousands of businesses each year across the UK and internationally.

The group specialises in business information, events and commercial development programmes.

Before joining the BE Group, Alastair worked in newspapers and media related businesses across the UK for almost 20 years, leading publishing businesses for Trinity Mirror Plc and the Daily Mail and General Trust Group.

Alastair said: “I’m delighted to be able to take up this very prestigious role.

“Teesside University is a fantastic institution with a vital role to play in supporting the region’s economy and I’m very proud to be associated with it.

“There are very exciting times ahead for Teesside and I look forward to continuing the excellent work done by Sandy and the rest of the governors and the staff of the University.”

Paul Booth OBE, the President of Sabic-UK Petrochemicals, has taken over as deputy chairman of the Governors.

The board has also appointed three new governors: Dr Jane Atkinson, vice-president (operations) at Sembcorp Utilities UK; Steve Tonks, director of banks group and Alastair Waite, former CEO of Onyx Group.