29.06.05
New Directors for Business Link

Gerry Brame (left), one of the local businessmen recently appointed as non-executive director and Bob Dow, Business Link's chief executive

Business Link Devon and Cornwall has appointed leading local businessmen Gerry Brame and David Young as non-executive directors.

Mr Brame is director of operations for West Pharmaceutical Services (Cornwall) Ltd, the UK division of US-based West Inc, the world's premier manufacturer of components and systems for injectable drug delivery. West employs 450 people in St Austell and Bodmin. Having operated at director and general manager level for major companies, including Metzeler, Dynacast and Standard Products Ltd, he joined West in 2002 and has since employed 'Lean' business and manufacturing tools and systems to transform the Cornish plants into world class operations. The St Austell facility is now the benchmark for West's 22 global plants.

Mr Brame chairs the Cornwall Pure Business initiative, is a director of the British Rubber Manufacturers Association and is a member of both the Devon and Cornwall Business Leaders Forum and the Cornwall Manufacturers Forum. He lives near Bideford and will start an MSc in Lean Enterprise at Cardiff University in September.

David Young is involved with a number of business projects and is managing director of Airport Business Centre Ltd, an industrial, office and warehousing complex in Estover, Plymouth. He returned to Plymouth 13 years ago as a senior banker with HSBC before setting up and running his own businesses in marketing communications, property, business support services and general consultancy. He also acts as an investor and mentor to growing businesses and has a degree in banking and finance. A graduate of Common Purpose, he is a director of Plymouth Chamber of Commerce and president of the Round Table in Saltash, where he lives.

Welcoming the two new directors, chief executive Bob Dow said: "We are very fortunate to have acquired the services of two businessmen of such high calibre and look forward to working with them to develop Business Link's network and services across the two counties."

For further information please contact Lisa McGowan of the Marketing-PR Company on 01566 771860 or lmcgowan@marketing-pr.co.uk.

The Objective One Programme for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has invested in Business Link Devon and Cornwall through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Fund (EAGGF).

Editor's notes:

Clare Morgan
Media Relations Manager
Objective One Partnership Office
Castle House
Pydar Street
Truro TR1 2UD
Mobile: 07973 813647
Telephone: 01872 223439

cmorgan@cornwall.gov.uk

back to top