Dr Richard Hutchins has been appointed Deputy Chief Executive of Advantage West Midlands, the regional development agency for the West Midlands region.
As Corporate Director for Economic Development at AWM, Richard is responsible for skills, enterprise, business support, innovation, access to finance, trade and investment, manufacturing and cluster policy.
He also has strategic responsibility for the Regional Skills Partnership, Enterprise Board, International Business Forum and Innovation and Technology Council amongst others.
He is heavily involved with the work of the West Midlands Taskforce, which is co-ordinating the regional response to the economic crisis and comprises leaders from government, business, regional agencies, trade unions and local authorities.
Richard will be deputy to AWM Chief Executive Mick Laverty, who said: “Richard is a strong team player and a leader, held in the highest regard by everyone who works with him and I’m delighted at his appointment to the role.
“These are tough times for the economy which are putting extraordinary demands on business and Richard will continue in his role as corporate director.
“But it will be a major benefit for the organisation to have a deputy who has a real passion for continuous improvement, seeks practical solutions and brings the best out of people, whatever the circumstances.”
Richard said: “It’s an honour and a challenge to take on this role. The Economic Development directorate has been in the front line in terms of supporting business at the onset of the recession – and that work goes on.
“The experience I’ve gained in recent times will prove invaluable to me as I support our chief executive more closely and as we work together to best manage the relentless and ever changing demands on Agency resources.”
Before joining Advantage West Midlands in September 2003, Richard spent six years at food industry think tank IGD, ultimately as Business Director on the Executive Board.
Prior to this he was an academic at Imperial College (Wye) and Newcastle University, where he researched, lectured and consulted in food marketing. He started his career in 1988 at Sun Valley Foods in Hereford as a Management Trainee. He has a PhD in Food Marketing and a BSc (Hons) in Agricultural and Food Marketing.
Richard is 44 years old. He has studied, lived and worked in many places in the UK and abroad and now lives in Stourbridge with his wife, Ruth, and young son, Ben. His interests include running to keep fit and, when time permits, following Stourbridge Rugby Club.