THE Destination marketing agency for the NewcastleGateshead Initiative (NGI) last night announced the appointment of Andrew Dixon as chief executive.

Mr Dixon will oversee NGI's activities, which include leisure and business tourism marketing, expanding NewcastleGateshead's conference industry and developing cultural events.

NGI chairman Alastair Balls said: "Andrew is very well respected in the area and, as well as having a wealth of knowledge about the cultural fabric of NewcastleGateshead and the wider region, he also brings an enormous amount of passion and enthusiasm to the organisation."

Mr Dixon said: "It is easy to be passionate about a place that you love, so working for NewcastleGateshead and helping to promote the North-East comes naturally."

As well as running NGI, Mr Dixon will continue as director of the World Summit on Arts and Culture, which will take place in June next year.

He is also an Ambassador for the City of Sunderland, council member of Durham Cathedral, governor of Gateshead College and supporter of Alnwick Garden. He has worked in the region for 17 years and was recently voted Alternative North East Businessperson of the Year.