AN industrial director has been appointed to a key role with regional development agency One NorthEast.

David Allison, industrial director of pharmaceuticals company Rhodia Pharma Solutions, will take up the post of director of Strategy for Success next month.

He will deliver the agency's £200m vision of becoming a world leader in scientific research and development.

A former engineering manager at ICI Billingham and operations manager at Zeneca, Mr Allison joined ChiRex Inc in 1999 as manufacturing manager. He also led the transformation of the firm's chemical plant in Dudley, North Tyneside, into a £50m turnover, principal European site.