TOP economist Angela McGowan has been appointed as the new director for the CBI in Northern Ireland, which represents around a third of the private sector workforce and two thirds of the region's largest employers.
She takes up her new role on October 1, and succeeds Nigel Smyth, who is retiring after 26 years of service.
Angela will head up the CBI’s Northern Ireland office and represent the UK’s largest business organisation’s Northern Ireland members with government, policy makers and other key stakeholders including the social partners and other business bodies.
She joins the lobby group from Danske Bank UK, where she has been chief economist since 2008.
Angela - a regular columnist in the Irish News - provides analysis, commentary and insights into Northern Ireland, UK and global economic trends, and provides a range of reports and media commentary on issues impacting on the local economy.
She previously worked as the senior economist at the Economic Research Institute NI (2004-7) and the Northern Ireland Economic Council (2001-04), and has a strong background in public policy research and analysis.
CBI Director-General Carolyn Fairbairn said: “I’m delighted to welcome Angela to the role. Her business experience, and wealth of economic knowledge, will help the CBI create the best possible conditions for its members in Northern Ireland.
“Following the UK’s decision to leave the European Union, Angela joins us at an important moment for Northern Ireland’s economy, when businesses will be looking for political stability and certainty. I look forward to working closely with her to achieve this.”
David Gavaghan, CBI Northern Ireland chairman, added: “On behalf of the CBI Northern Ireland Council and our wider membership we are delighted to welcome Angela to her new role, where her strong grasp of public policy issues and a deep understanding of the regional economy will be very important.
"The CBI is recognised as the voice of business and, as we all face a new set of challenges, Angela is ideally placed to lead the local team and engage widely in representing the interests of the business community in Northern Ireland.”
Stephen Matchett, chief financial officer at Danske Bank, said: “We would like to express our thanks to Angela for her contribution at the bank over the past eight years.
"Danske Bank has built a strong position in the Northern Ireland marketplace and Angela has played an important part in bolstering our reputation through her public-facing role as chief economist. She has also made a significant contribution in helping to inform and encourage wider economic debate in our society.”
