Matt Jukes, Hull City Council’s chief executive, is one of several new faces welcomed onto Humber Freeport’s Board of Directors.
The Freeport Board comprises of senior representation from both private and public sectors and, crucially, now includes leaders from all four of the region’s local authorities, and its two Mayoral Combined Authorities.
Among the new arrivals on the board, Matt Jukes was joined by Tom Wheldon, director and head of region (Yorkshire and North East) at HBD, part of Henry Boot, Paul Bellotti, East Riding Council’s chief executive, and Sharon Wroot, interim chief executive of North East Lincolnshire Council.
Representing the two combined authorities – Hull and East Yorkshire (HEYCA) and Greater Lincolnshire – are interim HEYCA chief executive Alan Menzies and Professor Neal Juster, who recently also served as the freeport’s interim chair.
The board is chaired by Finbarr Dowling, who retired from Siemens recently after a 35-year career which saw him drive forward large-scale investments within the region with a total value of £1 billion.
Mr Dowling said: “I’m delighted to welcome our newest directors. They bring a depth of knowledge and experience, spanning both public and private sectors, to enhance further the very considerable capability on our board.
“We look ahead to 2026 with renewed conviction that the freeport has a vital role to play in supporting the government’s plan for growth, attracting and supporting the major investments that create skilled jobs and a breadth of supply chain opportunities.
“We continue to receive significant interest in our three tax sites and are speaking with potential investors who see the Humber as a fantastic place to do business. We have the land, and the incentives, to make a real impact in our region, by delivering on our key objective – to attract investment and drive economic growth.”
The Humber Freeport Board of Directors comprises:
- Finbarr Dowling, Chair, Humber Freeport
- Jo Barnes, Managing Director, Sewell Estates
- Paul Bellotti, Chief Executive, East Riding Council
- Dominic Gibbons, Managing Director, Wykeland Group
- Matt Jukes, Chief Executive, Hull City Council
- Professor Neal Juster, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lincoln and Economic Advisory Panel member, Greater Lincolnshire Combined Authority
- Greg Lacey, Head of Property, Associated British Ports
- Alan Menzies (Observer Status), Interim Chief Executive, Hull & East Yorkshire Combined Authority
- Patrick Pogue, Group Director (Growth and Innovation), px Group
- Lesley Potts, Director of Communities, North Lincolnshire Council
- Marcus Walker, Development Director (Humber), Able UK
- Tom Wheldon, Director and Head of Region (Yorkshire and North East), HBD
- Sharon Wroot, Interim Chief Executive, North East Lincolnshire Council
For more details on the Humber Freeport Board of Directors, go to www.humberfreeport.org/who-are-we/