Pictured above: (l-r) Philip Costigan, from Band Hatton,
with new Coventry and Warwickshire First chair, Phil Ewing, from
HB&O
The newly installed leader of Coventry and Warwickshire's
professional services sector has stated his desire to help the
region step further out of the West Midlands' shadow.
Phil Ewing has taken over as chair of Coventry and Warwickshire
First, the organisation which represents the professional and
financial services industry in the region.
Ewing, who is also the Coventry director of financial experts
Harrison Beale and Owen, has been part of the organisation for over
three years and takes over the reins from Philip Costigan, a
partner at Coventry-based law firm Band Hatton.
Ewing said he was looking forward to the role and hoped to build
on the achievements of his predecessor.
"This is a great opportunity and I am delighted to have been
given the chance to chair this organisation," he said.
"Coventry and Warwickshire has really started to gel as a region
in its own right and we have begun to step out of the shadow of the
West Midlands.
"I think we will continue to grow stronger as a region and the
recent formation of the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise
Partnership, which we are heavily involved with, provides a great
opportunity to do that.
"Philip has done a tremendous job over the past year, steering
the group through tough economic times while also further
establishing Coventry and Warwickshire First as the region's
leading professional organisation, and he has left some big shoes
to fill.
"But we have a huge amount of professional talent in the region
and I am confident our organisation and the region will continue to
go from strength to strength."
The handover of the role of chair took place during the Chair's
Reception held at Coventry University's George Eliot Building.
Around 60 people attended and were also provided with a guided tour
of the city's 2-Tone Museum.
Philip Costigan said: "It has been a pleasure and privilege to
be Chair of Coventry and Warwickshire First.
"Coventry and Warwickshire First - or Coventry First as it was
then - was started as an idea in 2001 and in just ten years has
come a very long way, to the point where it is now recognised as
the respected voice of the professional business community in
Coventry and Warwickshire.
"It is also a marvellous forum for our members to meet, to find
out what is going on in our area and to feel a real pride in our
local professional community.
"I have very much enjoyed my year in office and thank Phil Ewing
for his great support as my vice chair this year and I hand over to
him with great confidence that he will take us even further forward
during this coming year."
For further information about HB&O, please visit their
website here: www.hboltd.co.uk