After 15 years as the public face of the County Durham Development company, marketing diresctor Phil Eadon talks to Business Correspondent Jonathan Jones about his decision to step down

THE man behind the success of County Durham technology partnering event Intertech has given up his day job to concentrate on increasing its success. Phil Eadon, formerly County Durham Development Company's (CDDC) director of marketing, plans to turn Intertech, which last year attracted more than 400 participants from 12 countries, into an annual event.

He said: "CDDC has agreed to let me leave, and take the Intertech event with me. That way I can build it into a truly international event and I am currently looking to hold it elsewhere in Europe and the UK when it is not held in this region."

Mr Eadon's has had a varied career, working as a marketing executive at motor group Cowies, in Sunderland, and as an area sales manager for chocolate company Tobler Suchard.

He was also a marketing manager at Sage, before it hit the big time and became a plc. Mr Eadon was responsible for the national expansion of Sage's PC learning centres.

He said: "It was while I was at Sage that I saw the advert for County Durham Development Company, and realised it possibly held greater challenges for me."

Despite the success of Sage after his departure, he has no regrets. That said, it seems clear that Mr Eadon would not enjoy watching another success story flourish in his absence. Hence the decision to leave CDDC with the Intertech event under his arm.

He said: "While I am free to pursue other opportunities in the marketing field, my main aim is the continued success of Intertech. My colleagues at CDDC are happy for me to take control of the event, using me to organise it for them on a consultancy basis."

"The success of the County Durham event will hopefully lead to its being adopted elsewhere. Indiana, in the US, is already planning to hold its own such event."

Another Intertech event is already scheduled to take place in County Durham in October.

"The original plan was to hold one every two years, with the next one being in 2005," said Mr Eadon.

"However, my decision to leave CDDC has moved the goalposts a little, and it has been decided to hold an event this year, and again in 2007.

"Intertech is a fantastic event, and something I believe will work in other regions of the UK, as well as in other European countries.

"The 2003 event saw almost 1,000 meetings take place between delegates at County Hall, with eight seminars on key areas of future technology.

"Together with two networking events, these provided dozens of opportunities for participants to meet and discuss future business co-operation."

Mr Eadon first came to the North-East in 1978, when he joined Allen Bradley Electronics, in Jarrow, as a marketing assistant, following the completion of a degree in marketing and engineering at Huddersfield Polytechnic.

Born in Rugby, Warwickshire, it was hard for Mr Eadon to call anywhere home for the first 18 years of his life - his father was in the RAF and the family travelled with him.

Mr Eadon said: "I went to 16 different schools between four and 18, including spells in Bahrain, Cyprus and Germany.

"The first time I was really settled was when I went to Huddersfield Polytechnic."

Following his time at Allen Bradley, he moved to the Midlands, working as marketing and sales manager at delivery service TNT Overnite Express.

"I worked all over, including London and the Midlands, before moving back to the North-East, to support the Seaham depot of that business."

He went on to work for Cowies, in Sunderland, before joining Tobler Suchard as area sales manager for the North-East.

A short spell at Unit Offset fast frame franchises as marketing manager saw him join Sage, before joining CDDC in 1988.

He said: "I worked my way through the ranks at CDDC, from marketing and promotions executive to head of marketing and then director of marketing.

"I am proud of my time at CDDC, and what we achieved. It was during that period that Fujitsu and Sanyo were attracted to the county. They may have gone, but they helped put us on the international map."

So what does the future hold for Mr Eadon, now that CDDC is behind him.

"I may no longer be employed full-time by CDDC, but I'll still be going in a couple of days a week on a consultancy basis. I have been at CDDC for 15 years doing my best for the county, and I do not want to see it fail now."

Mr Eadon will not be leaving the region. He has set up Delta Marketing and Promotions from his home in Washington, where he lives with his wife and four children.

"I have become a naturalised Geordie now, and I would not want to live anywhere else. My new business will hopefully build on the lessons I have learnt at CDDC, and help other North-East companies attain success."