CBI strengthens Yorkshire & Humber leadership team

A new Associate Regional Director has been appointed for the CBI’s Yorkshire and the Humber region – and says she is looking forward to helping the region’s businesses navigate a path through recovery and on to renewed prosperity.

Olga Watterich joins the CBI from Business in the Community, where she has held a variety of roles over the past 19 years.

Those roles have included advising on companies’ community investment strategies, and latterly managing the organisation’s national community and education programmes and partnership development.

Prior to that, Olga worked in corporate account management for companies including Thomson Reuters and Trinity Mirror – now Reach plc.

Olga will work alongside Regional Director Beckie Hart in her new CBI role, and says she is looking forward to using her experience to benefit a region she is passionate about.

Olga Watterich, CBI Associate Regional Director for Yorkshire & the Humber, said:

“I am delighted to have been appointed as Associate Regional Director for Yorkshire & the Humber to work alongside Beckie Hart.

“This is a region I feel very passionately about. The diversity of its cities and landscape is reflected by the business community, which boasts talent across a huge array of sectors.

“Businesses have faced notable challenges over the past two years with Covid-19, the changing EU-UK relationship and the drive to net zero, with further challenges around supply chain issues, rising energy costs and skills shortages emerging. It is a pivotal time for our economy, and the decisions we make now will define our futures.

“I am committed to working with CBI members to not only support them in overcoming their challenges, but also to achieve their long-term ambitions to grow prosperity and opportunity throughout the region.”

Beckie Hart, CBI Yorkshire & the Humber Director, said:

“I am thrilled Olga has joined the CBI team; she brings a wealth of experience to the role, and her knowledge of Yorkshire and the Humber’s strengths and challenges means she is well equipped to support our members to achieve their ambitions.

“Businesses across the region have faced a tough time over the past 18 months, but the CBI’s Yorkshire and Humber team stands ready to help them bounce back from these challenges plot a new trajectory towards a prosperous, equitable and sustainable future.”