Lord Chris Haskins has announced he is to step down as chair of the Humber Local Enterprise Partnership.
A dedicated supporter of the Humber region, Lord Haskins has worked tirelessly to ensure the views of businesses across both banks of the estuary are represented at the highest levels of government.
Lord Haskins has now announced he is to leave his position as chair at the Humber LEP, having taken up the role in 2011.
Lord Haskins said: “Eight years is a very long time to be a Chair and it is more than time for someone else to take over as Chair of the Humber LEP. Now is the right time for a change.
“I have every confidence the LEP will find an excellent replacement, who can carry on the encouraging progress we’ve seen taking place in the Humber, and can lead the organisation through any future challenges.”
Born near Dublin, in Ireland, Lord Haskins moved to the country more than 50 years ago, and quickly came to call East Yorkshire his home.
The son of a dairy farmer, Lord Haskins briefly flirted with the idea of becoming a journalist, before opting against it and launching into a career in business.
He rose to become the chairman of the successful FTSE 100 Northern Foods and Express Dairies – a business with an impressive client base across the chilled food sector.
Lord Haskins, who lives on his farm in Skidby, East Yorkshire, was also the man Tony Blair’s Labour government turned to as its ‘Rural Tsar’ at the height of the foot and mouth crisis.
The former Prime Minister described his experience as “invaluable,” and Lord Haskins’ contribution was recognised in 1998 when he was awarded a life peerage.
Lord Haskins was also last year awarded with the Lifetime Contribution Award at the 2018 Hull Daily Mail Business Awards.
Mr Blair said in a video message showed at the Business Awards: “Throughout his distinguished career, he has been a consistent and formidable voice for rural Britain, always standing up for their best interests…
“His no-nonsense approach was invaluable to me and the Government, particularly during the foot and mouth crisis when he became the ‘Rural Tsar.’ I could not have got through it without his counsel, and determination.
“He has never been one to stay silent, or been afraid to stand up in what he believes in. He is still a strong voice, making valuable contributions to the Brexit debate, using his energy and enthusiasm to ensure rural communities are not left behind.”
Lord Haskins has been instrumental in redefining the Humber as a green energy estuary, and has helped lay the foundations for the likes of Siemens Gamesa to invest in the region.
Alan Johnson, former Home Secretary in 2009 and 2010, said: “He is very, very keen to look to the future. He is always looking to the future, never the past, and is always looking at what is next and what is important for the area.
“The diversity of his achievement is incredible, and the fact everything he has taken on he has made a success of.”
The new Humber LEP chair is expected to be appointed before the end of the year.
Two additional private sector board members will also be appointed to fill existing vacancies.
An open recruitment process will be launched shortly.
