Member Article

Chocolate entrepreneur to share story on Teesside

The World-famous chocolate entrepreneur behind Green and Blacks will speak at the first Business Exchange event at Teesside University’s Darlington Campus.

Former journalist Jo Fairley co-founded the iconic chocolate brand with her husband, Craig Sams, and will tell business leaders about her story.

Having started with just £20,000 of her own savings, Jo has successfully built the brand into a £100m business that outsells the likes of Marmite.

Jo said: “Throughout my career I’ve built up an exceptional understanding of brand creation and development.

“I’m pleased to be invited to Teesside University’s Darlington campus to be given the opportunity to enter into discussion, and share what I have learnt, with the North East’s business leaders.

“As I continue developing my own career in business it is inspiring to speak with other business leaders to discuss and share insights into the commercial realities of business.

“I’ve had my fair share of roller-coaster moments that have allowed me to develop marketing skills in a real-life context. I’ve brought this experience to my own new venture and to the companies I act as consultant for.”

The Business Exchange programme is a network of senior leaders from business and organisations in the North East and North Yorkshire, meeting every month at the University’s Darlington Campus.

Each event showcases a high-profile speaker followed by a Q&A session and networking time.

Laura Woods, director of academic enterprise at Teesside University, said: “This programme is designed to inspire, connect and add value for senior leaders in the region, whether a managing director of an engineering company or the financial director of a packaging firm.

“The Business Exchange is supported by expert research on what drives the people at the helm of successful enterprises.

“The synergies created by like-minded business people coming together offer tremendous value, not only for those attending, but for the businesses and organisations they represent, helping us collectively to achieve our aim of inspiring and growing the economy in the North East.”

The Business Exchange takes place on Tuesday, July 2, from 8am to 9.30am at Teesside University Darlington, Vicarage Road, Darlington, DL1 1JW. For more information visit www.tees.ac.uk/exchange or contact Catherine Kearney at catherine.kearney@tees.ac.uk or telephone 01642 738969.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .