Stanley Morrice MBE has become Chair of Opportunity North East (ONE), succeeding founding Chairman Sir Ian Wood KT GBE, who died in July.
Mr Morrice brings more than three decades of business leadership across food, drink, retail, wholesale, logistics and offshore supply to the private sector economic development catalyst for north east Scotland.
Raised in Fraserburgh, he entered the food and retail sector as a school leaver. He built a career across family-owned businesses and large publicly listed companies in Scotland, the UK and internationally.
He joined the ONE Food, Drink & Agriculture Board in 2019 and the ONE Board in 2020, and served as Vice Chair alongside Sir Ian. He continues to chair the ONE Food, Drink & Agriculture Board, where business leaders set the ambition for one of the region’s growth sectors. He is also Vice Chair of Food Hub (NES), the company behind ONE SeedPod in Aberdeen.
Stanley Morrice MBE, Chair, Opportunity North East, said:
"It is an honour to take on the role of Chair of Opportunity North East and to work alongside the talented people at ONE, led by Jennifer Craw. They have my full support.
"I have spent my career building businesses, from family firms to listed companies. Founders need to understand their customer, build the skills to grow, have experienced people in their corner, and find routes to new markets and investment. Through ONE, they find all of that: entrepreneurial education, mentors who have grown businesses themselves, sector boards that open doors, and a home at ONE Tech Hub, ONE BioHub or ONE SeedPod.
"Ten years on, the independent evidence is clear. This private sector-led model, backed by patient capital, has delivered almost £9 of value to the north east for every £1 of public money. That is a strong platform to build on.
"Sir Ian expected delivery from the ONE team and from the private sector leaders who give their time to the ONE Board and sector boards. We will carry on the work he began, with the same discipline and ambition he asked of us all. I ask business leaders, partners and government across the north east to continue to back that work."
Jennifer Craw MBE, Chief Executive, ONE, said:
“Stanley has played an important role at ONE since he joined the board in 2020. He brings the instincts of someone who has grown and led businesses here in Scotland and internationally, and he knows this region well. As Vice Chair, he worked closely with Sir Ian and has championed our entrepreneurship activity. As Chair of our Food, Drink & Agriculture Board, he has united industry leaders behind the growth of that sector. The whole ONE team looks forward to continuing to work with him.”
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Opportunity North East Ltd
11 Queens Gardens
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AB15 4YD