OBE for council business chief who helped bring Nissan to Sunderland
A council executive who helped bring Nissan to Sunderland has been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
Sunderland City Council’s Head of Automotive, Investment & Business Support Tom Hurst has been awarded an OBE for services to Local Government and Economic Prosperity through Inward Investment.
Mr Hurst, who joined the council more than 30 years ago, said: “I’m very flattered and, naturally, honoured to be awarded this.
“Sunderland has always had a very strong track record in attracting global companies to locate and expand in the city. We’ve continued with that track record and are at the forefront of both job creation and inward investment.
“In achieving and sustaining this strong record, it’s always been a team effort from within the council by officers and councillors, and by working closely with our partners in both the public and private sector.”
Sunderland is now one of Europe’s major automotive locations, with about 15,000 people directly employed in the sector in the city and many thousands more in surrounding parts of the region.
Leader of Sunderland City Council Coun Paul Watson said: “Tom has played a central role in keeping Sunderland at the forefront of job creation.
“He was part of the team that helped attract Nissan to the region in the 1980s and he’s helped see Sunderland, and indeed the region, grow into a leading automotive centre.
“He’s been and continues to be a key player in the city’s economic resurgence and has worked across many business sectors from offshore and subsea, financial and customer services, to software and IT.
“He’s helped forge and steer many economic developments and successes in our city and the North East.
“This a very pleasing recognition for him, and everyone who has worked with him.
“We can all be very proud of the investment that Tom and the business team have brought to Sunderland and our region.”