Freshwater’s CEO appointed to new Cardiff Capital Region Business Council Board

Angharad Neagle, chief executive of Freshwater, has been appointed as a member of the newly formed Cardiff Capital Region Business Council Board.

Angharad joins a selection of business leaders to help direct, inform and shape the future of business in South East Wales, with Cardiff Capital Region (CCR) covering ten local authorities and an approximate population of 1.5 million people. The diverse region comprises the two cities of Cardiff and Newport, a range of market towns, the industrial heartland of the South Wales Valleys, rural communities and a coastal belt.

Since the coming together of the 10 unitary authorities in South East Wales to form the CCR, a range of investment programmes have been established aimed at increasing connectivity, improving physical and digital infrastructure, and supporting the scale-up ambitions of innovative companies in priority sectors. With numerous points of progress since 2017 for CCR, the new board will play an important role in the region’s continued development.

The board will work alongside the CCR Cabinet, the Economic Growth Partnership, the Skills Partnership and other high-profile organisations to promote and facilitate the diverse range of commercial opportunities available to South East Wales in a post-pandemic world.

Speaking about her appointment, Angharad Neagle said: “This is an exciting and pivotal moment to be joining the Cardiff Capital Region Business Council.

“Businesses across the region already play a key role in bringing investment, training, jobs, transport and digital connectivity to South East Wales, but together there is much more we can do.

“I am looking forward to working with chair, Nigel Griffiths, and other council members to harness this extra potential, and with the business community to make a significant and serious contribution to CCR’s economic growth plans.”

Nigel Griffiths, chair of the Business Council, said: “This is a new and diverse team of “thinkers and doers” who bring the credibility, capability and passion for business necessary for us to reset, redefine and deliver on what is achievable in our region.

“Now more than ever, it’s time to roll up our sleeves and get things done. It’s our job to take the lead in promoting regional business engagement, contributing informed ideas and facilitating meaningful contributions from businesses across the region – so it’s critical that we have the finest business brains from across the many commercial sectors in our region.”

Angharad is joined on the council by Rob Basini (Development Manager at the Federation of Small Businesses); Paul Webber (Director of Arup); Rakesh Aggarwal (Founder & CEO of Escentual); Peter Cashin (MD of Huntleigh Healthcare Ltd); Andrew Evans (Senior Director at SPTS Technologies and KLA); Victoria Mann (Founder & CEO of NearMeNow); Karen Maguire (CFO of Confused.com); Andrew Morris (Partner at Geldards LLP); Damon Rands (Founder & CEO of Wolfberry) and Matthew Tossell (CEO of Hugh James Involegal).