TheCityUK appoints industry champion for Yorkshire and Humber

28 February 2023

TheCityUK, the industry-led body representing UK-based financial and related professional services, has appointed John Walsh as its new Regional Chair for Yorkshire and the Humber. John will join a network of TheCityUK National and Regional Chairs across some of the UK’s major financial hubs to promote and advocate for the industry across the region.

As TheCityUK Regional Chair for Yorkshire and the Humber, John, who is Head of Office Leeds - UK Corporate at Marsh, will also be focused on developing opportunities for greater collaboration with other financial centres across the UK, leading industry engagement with policymakers across the region and in Westminster, and pursuing stronger links with key local stakeholders.

Miles Celic, Chief Executive Officer, TheCityUK, said, “I am delighted to announce John as our new Regional Chair for Yorkshire and the Humber. He will play an important role in our work to champion the industry across the region, strengthen key partnerships with local stakeholders and forge stronger links between other UK financial hubs.

“Financial and related professional services are a major national asset, employing one in 14 people – two thirds of whom are based outside London, creating jobs and driving economic growth right across the country. 

John Walsh, TheCityUK Regional Chair for the Yorkshire and the Humber and Head of Office Leeds - UK Corporate at Marsh, said, “Yorkshire and the Humber is an important financial and related financial professional services ecosystem and I’m delighted to take up the role with TheCityUK as Regional Chair for the region. Boosting collaboration within the region will be a key priority, as will looking at how we support local businesses and economic growth.”

Yorkshire and the Humber is a thriving financial and related professional services hub. The industry comprised over 6% of the region’s total employment (145,000 people) and 8.8% of its total GVA in 2020[1]. Leeds is the region’s largest financial centre, employing more than one quarter of its industry workforce. It is also one of the UK’s largest centres for banking.  

TheCityUK’s network of National and Regional Chairs are based in some of the UK’s most prominent financial and related professional centres, including Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle. These Chairs will support the organisation’s enhanced programme of work to promote the strength of the industry and the high-value, high-productivity jobs the industry creates across the whole of the UK.

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