The new chairman of Manufacturing Challenge in the Tees Valley has called for a "better balance" between attracting inward investment and supporting North-East home-grown businesses.
Bill Bates claims there is a need to improve the co-ordination in the way in which business support services are delivered.
He takes over the chairmanship of the challenge from Valda Goodfellow.
Mr Bates has worked in the region for the past 26 years, holding a number of key jobs including managing director posts with ntl North-East and Integral, as well as chief executive of the North-East Chamber of Commerce.
He said: "I want the Challenge to champion the cause of indigenous businesses here in the region and I believe the first thing we need to get right is how support services are delivered.
"Constant changes in business support services leave many people confused about how to get help and what is available.
"I believe the Challenge can play a pivotal role in saying to the Government and local support agencies that its time we had some genuine co-ordination."
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