Business organisation Aberdeen Inspired has appointed a new chairman to lead its board of directors.
City businessman Allan Henderson takes up the role and succeeds Richard Noble who held the position for the last four years.
A passionate Aberdonian, Allan is managing director of The Workshop UK Ltd, the city’s largest onshore contract catering business. He also co-owns serval other hospitality businesses including McGinty’s, The Stag and Ferryhill House Hotel.
Allan has been on the Aberdeen Inspired board since its inception and has successfully led its Attractive City theme which will this year include a targeted clean-up campaign of Union Street among other tailored city centre projects.
He said: “As Aberdeen Inspired enters a new and exciting chapter in its history after its recent re-ballot success, I’m thrilled to have been appointed chairman of an organisation that I’m proud to be a part of.
“I’ve been involved with the organisation for three years and throughout this time, and through my own business interests in the city centre, I’ve seen the positive change that it has brought about to the benefit of the BID members and to those that visit, work and live within the area. With a projected minimum spend of £6.5million earmarked for investment in the city centre by the organisation in the next five years, this is only set to grow and I’m eager to continue playing a role in encouraging positive change in the city.
“I’ve lived and worked within Aberdeen all my life and hold a strong desire to shine a spotlight on the positive aspects of our city along with coming together to build on the positive foundations that are already in place. It is critical in these challenging economic times that the citizens of Aberdeen work together in championing the fantastic merits of our city. Aberdeen is unfairly denigrated far too often, and we really need to concentrate our efforts in talking up this great city.”
The Aberdeen Inspired board of directors has also been shuffled, with Debbie Irvine, general manager at Bryant Engineering Services and Bryant Personal Services, Vicki Jones, operations manager at John Lewis in Aberdeen and Liam Smyth, membership director at Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce all being appointed. They replace Robert Collier, Linda Stewart, Geoff Cooper and Richard Noble who have stepped down.
Gary Craig, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired, said: “The support and guidance I’ve had from the organisation’s board of directors has been invaluable so far and I look forward to continuing to work closely with Allan, Debbie, Vicki, Liam and the other directors in the coming months and years ahead.
“I’d also like to say a big thank you to Robert, Linda, Geoff and Richard for their efforts over the last four years. They’ve played a major part in firstly establishing Aberdeen Inspired as well as in the recent re-ballot success and leave the organisation at the start of the next chapter in an exciting and prosperous future.”
Aberdeen Inspired is the banner under which the Aberdeen BID (Business Improvement District) operates. It is a business-led initiative within the city centre in which levy payers within the BID zone contribute.
Proceeds are used to fund projects designed to improve the business district. Further information on the work of Aberdeen Inspired is available at www.aberdeeninspired.com