Senior leaders join Humber Freeport Board to spearhead region’s growth ambition

Humber Freeport has welcomed new faces to its Board of Directors with a series of key appointments.

The Freeport Board comprises of senior representation from both private and public sectors and, crucially, now includes leaders from all four of the region’s local authorities, and its two Mayoral Combined Authorities.

Among the new arrivals on the Board is Tom Wheldon, Director and Head of Region (Yorkshire and North East) at HBD, part of Henry Boot. Tom brings a wealth of experience spanning property development, land acquisition and business growth.

He is joined by Matt Jukes, Hull City Council’s Chief Executive, Paul Bellotti, East Riding Council’s Chief Executive, and Sharon Wroot, Interim Chief Executive of North East Lincolnshire Council.

Representing the two Combined Authorities – Hull and East Yorkshire (HEYCA) and Greater Lincolnshire – are Interim HEYCA Chief Executive Alan Menzies and Professor Neal Juster, who recently also served as the Freeport’s Interim Chair.

The Board is chaired by Finbarr Dowling, who retired from Siemens recently after a 35-year career which saw him drive forward large-scale investments within the region with a total value of £1 billion.

Mr Dowling said: “I’m delighted to welcome our newest Directors. They bring a depth of knowledge and experience, spanning both public and private sectors, to enhance further the very considerable capability on our Board.

“We look ahead to 2026 with renewed conviction that the Freeport has a vital role to play in supporting the Government’s plan for growth, attracting and supporting the major investments that create skilled jobs and a breadth of supply chain opportunities.

“We continue to receive significant interest in our three tax sites, and are speaking with potential investors who see the Humber as a fantastic place to do business. We have the land, and the incentives, to make a real impact in our region, by delivering on our key objective – to attract investment and drive economic growth.”

The Humber Freeport Board of Directors comprises:

• Finbarr Dowling, Chair, Humber Freeport

• Jo Barnes, Managing Director, Sewell Estates

• Paul Bellotti, Chief Executive, East Riding Council

• Dominic Gibbons, Managing Director, Wykeland Group

• Matt Jukes, Chief Executive, Hull City Council

• Professor Neal Juster, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lincoln and Economic Advisory Panel member, Greater Lincolnshire Combined Authority

• Greg Lacey, Head of Property, Associated British Ports

• Alan Menzies (Observer Status), Interim Chief Executive, Hull & East Yorkshire Combined Authority

• Patrick Pogue, Group Director (Growth and Innovation), px Group

• Lesley Potts, Director of Communities, North Lincolnshire Council

• Marcus Walker, Development Director (Humber), Able UK

• Tom Wheldon, Director and Head of Region (Yorkshire and North East), HBD

• Sharon Wroot, Interim Chief Executive, North East Lincolnshire Council

New Board member Mr Wheldon said: “I’m pleased to join the Humber Freeport Board at such a pivotal moment for the region. The scale of opportunity across the Freeport’s tax sites is significant, and the momentum already building demonstrates real confidence. 

“Continued collaboration between the public and private sector will help accelerate growth, support the creation of skilled jobs, and ensure the Humber continues to position itself as an international hub for manufacturing.

“We look forward to starting on site with FREEPORT 36 at Goole; a brand new £130m commercial ecosystem, delivering up to 5m sq ft of high-quality, sustainable space and providing the facilities businesses need to expand and drive research and development.”

The Board of Directors will provide expertise and guidance as Humber Freeport enters its delivery phase, with sights fixed on driving investment and creating thousands of skilled jobs.

As one of 12 UK Freeports, Humber Freeport pushes ahead with renewed backing from Government.

The UK Freeports Programme Report 2025, published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, said Freeports had “played an important role in building the foundations for long-term regional and national growth”.

It said UK Freeports were “in an ideal position to pivot to the ambitions of this Government’s growth agenda,” adding tax sites will be “a pivotal tool for delivering growth in priority sectors”.

For Humber Freeport, those priority investment sectors have been identified as manufacturing, food and agri-tech, clean energy and defence.

Investment in manufacturing has already been made by companies including Mitsubishi Chemicals Group, at the Hull East freeport tax site, and Siemens Gamesa, at its offshore wind turbine blade manufacturing facility at Alexandra Dock in Hull.

At the Goole freeport tax site, Finnish manufacturer Metsä Tissue and development partner Wykeland Group have had a planning application approved for the UK’s largest tissue paper mill, and a joint application from HBD and landowner St John’s College Cambridge for an industrial and manufacturing park has received the green light from East Riding of Yorkshire Council.

In total, around £1bn of investment has been pledged in the Humber Freeport tax sites. Projects which have benefitted from the Freeport’s £25m seed capital fund continue to be delivered, including an expansion at Stallingborough-based training provider CATCH.

The UK Government has placed Freeports – alongside Investment Zones – at the heart of its Modern Industrial Strategy, having identified them as powerful tools to transition to a stronger industrial future.

For more details on the Humber Freeport Board of Directors, go to  www.humberfreeport.org/who-are-we/