From trade union leaders to paralympians, meet the people who have a key role to play in the North East region
ROBERT FORRESTER; Chief executive, Vertu Motors Plc (LON:VTU), Gateshead
Mr Forrester, who is vice president of the Automotive Fellowship International, is successfully steering Vertu through what is a tough trading environment, with the company recently adding the Buckinghamshire-based Hughes Group to its portfolio at a cost of £21.8m, its first acquisition in two years. The group has also recently boosted its apprenticeship scheme launched last year in conjunction with Northumbria University, which allows trainees to do debt-free degrees while earning an £18,000 salary.