There’s only 24 hours to go until BusinessCloud’s inaugural 2024 Northern Leaders list is revealed.
After an exhaustive four-month process the judges have picked the 200 people they believe have made – and continue to make – the biggest positive difference to the North.
The names come from across the North and include entrepreneurs; philanthropists; politicians; public servants; investors; academics; sporting stars; community workers; and unsung heroes.
A total of 540 names were submitted and on Thursday we’ll be publishing a second list – Northern Leaders Futures – of 75 people.
As with the main list, they have to be leaders who have improved the North but with the added criteria that they were aged 45 or under at the start of the year.
In January 2025 a celebratory dinner and awards evening will be taking place at KPMG’s Manchester office for many of the people on the list. More details about the dinner will follow.
The headline sponsor for Northern Leaders is OBI and it is joined by partners KPMG, Co-op Live, CG, GM Business Growth Hub; and Rochdale Development Agency.
BusinessCloud’s executive editor Chris Maguire explained the stringent process upon which the names were chosen.
“We invited nominations from across the North and were overwhelmed by the sheer quantity and quality of the names that came forward,” he said.
“We then canvassed the views of more than 30 respected names from across the region.
“Several judging sessions were held with our partners and after lots of robust discussions we narrowed it down to 200 people on the Northern Leaders list.
“To be honest you could have made a case for all 540 names on the long list, but ultimately it came down to the leaders who make the North a better place by their actions.
“All vested interests were openly declared and the list shines a light on some of many people who have made the North what it is.”
The names on the list will appear in alphabetical order.
After discussions with its partners, BusinessCloud decided to create a second list – Northern Leaders Futures – which will be published on Thursday.
Attention is already turning to a celebratory dinner and awards evening that will take place in Manchester in January 2025 when several awards will be handed out.
More details will be provided nearer the time.
- Contact Chris Maguire here