Richard Gregory, the former managing director of a digital agency, is to lead Tech North, the government agency tasked with improving the tech sector in the north of England.

Richard Gregory has been appointed to lead Tech North – Photo credit: Jackie Hole and Don’t Panic

Gregory, who has worked mainly in the private sector, will take up the role of director of Tech North on 11 July.

The position has been vacant since his predecessor Claire Braithwaite’s surprise departure in January this year, amid concerns that its parent body Tech City UK was trying to increase control of the northern outfit and its budget.

It has been temporarily filled by Herb Kim, the chairman of tech North’s advisory body.

Related content

Public sector in the north urged to open up to local tech
Local authorities facing budget cuts and brain-drain as UK votes for Brexit

Announcing Gregory’s appointment, Kim said he would resume his old role and that the new recruit had been thoroughly “vetted” after nine meetings with members of both Tech North and Tech City UK.

Kim said that Gregory’s private sector experience – he worked at Latitude Digital Marketing for 12 years, two of which as managing director – and time managing more than 120 employees across four locations would serve him well in the new role.

Kim also highlighted Gregory’s work in Manchester, as council member of the independent tech body Manchester Digital and co-founder of the annual  search, analytics and social media conference SAScon, as evidence of his abilities to unite people in the north.

Gregory said that he was looking forward to the challenge of leading the group and that, in the aftermath of the UK’s vote to leave the EU, “the need for Tech North to support the Northern tech community has never been greater”.

He added that he would hold a series of events across the north in mid-July to discuss the future of Tech North.