Bryan Gray
Chairman, Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA)
Bryan is chairman of the NWDA, one of nine Regional Development Agencies established by the Government to develop the English regions. He also HRH The Prince of Wales’s Ambassador for Corporate Responsibility in the North West.
Bryan is Deputy Chairman of Baxi Group Limited, one of Europe's leading heating companies, and Chairman of Baxi Technologies. Baxi manufactures boilers, water heaters and gas fires under the Baxi, Potterton and Valor brands. Baxi’s turnover is Euro 1.1 billion and employs 5,800 people. He is also Vice President of the European Heating Industries Association and an honorary Professor in the Department of the Built Environment at the University of Nottingham.
Bryan Gray joined Baxi in 1993 having previously worked for ICI for almost 20 years. From 1989 he held a number of senior positions in ICI in the Northwest. He was Chairman of Preston North End Football Club until October 2001 and was founder chairman of the National Football Museum. He was also Chairman of CBI North West from 2000 to 2002. His other roles include being Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lancaster, Deputy Lieutenant of Lancashire and High Sheriff of Lancashire.
Bryan has a national responsibility leading on behalf of all Regional Development Agencies on all matters relating to the Department for Education and Skills and the Department for Work and Pensions. Bryan is also a member of the Capital of Culture Board and has been awarded an MBE for services to regeneration Preston.
