The North East Mayoral Strategic Authority is seeking a new chair for its Business Advisory Council after North East Chamber of Commerce chief executive John McCabe announced he will step down from the role when his two-year term ends in January.

In a LinkedIn post, McCabe said businesses of “all sizes and sectors have a role to play” and that it was “more important than ever that their voices are heard”. He added that his work at the Chamber would enable him to continue advocating for the region on the national stage.

The successful candidate will chair the business council and represent business interests as a non-voting member of the Mayor’s Cabinet.

The authority is looking for a senior leader with extensive regional and national business networks, a collaborative approach and a strong commitment to the North East.

The council has no decision-making powers. Its role is to provide business intelligence and advice on policy and delivery, giving companies a route into the authority’s work on economic growth, skills and investment.

The authority previously called the body the Business and Economy Board. McCabe was appointed its chair and Business Board Member of Cabinet in January 2025, after the authority created a new board with a wider remit than its predecessor.

The board held its first meeting in March last year to discuss the draft Local Growth Plan. Its membership brought together senior figures from banking, universities, ports, manufacturing, law, skills, technology and smaller businesses.

The authority says the board contributed to the development of the ten-year Local Growth Plan. Its published remit is to advise on issues affecting businesses and the region’s economic future, share business intelligence and identify strategic barriers to delivery.

The appointment comes as the Mayoral Strategic Authority moves from establishing its institutions towards delivering its economic plans.

The ten-year Local Growth Plan sets the region’s priorities, while the authority is working with a £1.87bn Integrated Settlement that gives it greater flexibility over regional investment.

It has also joined the National Wealth Fund’s strategic partnership programme, giving it access to investment experts to help develop financeable regeneration and transport projects.

Business support provides one practical example of the work the business council is expected to inform. In March 2026, Cabinet approved £7.1m for a nine-month transition programme while the authority develops a longer-term regional framework with the Business Board, businesses, councils and support providers.

The authority’s advert says the successful candidate will bring the insight and networks of the business, voluntary and community sectors into regional decision-making.

That leaves the next chair with an advisory role to develop as the authority takes on more responsibility for economic policy and investment.

Applications close at 5pm on 13 October. The authority has not yet published the timetable for selecting or appointing the new chair.