JOHN McDougall has been named as the person who will take up one of the most influential positions in the region's business community.

Mr McDougall has been selected as chairman of the North East Business Support Network Board after a search which attracted some of the top talent from the North-East and beyond.

The chartered engineer worked for nearly 30 years with engineering consultants WS Atkins, becoming regional managing director in 1991.

He is a former chairman of Teesside Tec, deputy chairman of the University of Teesside, a director of Darlington Building Society and immediate past president of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Last year he was appointed Professor of Sustainable Development at Sheffield Hallam University and works with the United Nations on sustainability projects.

Working with the business community and others involved in business support, regional development agency One NorthEast made the creation of the independent network board possible. It will oversee a support network that will change the way companies and individuals get help and advice.

Alistair Arkley, chairman of the selection panel, said: "I am confident that in John McDougall we have found someone who will drive these proposals forward and ensure that the new Business Support Network becomes a reality that will benefit the whole region.

"A great many people have worked very hard over the past two years to come up with proposals for a simplified structure of support that will focus directly on business customers and what they really want and need.

"Throughout this process, we have involved and consulted extensively with businesses, advisors, training providers and existing business support agencies and it is pleasing that where necessary, people have been prepared to compromise in order to make this work.

"This innovative approach will clearly show what the North-East can achieve through dedicated partnership working, and I believe the region will become a model for customer-focused business support which others will seek to emulate. Whitehall and Brussels have turned the spotlight upon us as they look at new ways of tackling these issues."