THE CBI has welcomed a North-East social housing group boss to a senior role.

Alison Thain OBE, chief executive of Thirteen Group, is the vice-chairwoman at the CBI North-East Council.

Ms Thain is deputy to Heidi Mottram OBE, Northumbrian Water’s chief executive, and will succeed her in September.

The CBI North East Council forms part of the CBI’s national policy making committee, signing off all CBI’s public policy positions.

It also plays a key role in promoting North-East business interests of businesses, giving the region a voice in Westminster, Whitehall, Brussels and beyond.

Ms Thain has been a member of the North East Council since 2010, and is the boss at Thirteen Group, which formed in April as a merger of Fabrick and Vela Homes.

She said: “I am really excited to have been appointed vice chair of the North-East Regional Council.

"The next 12 months in particular are vital for business in the run up to the general election.

“I’m looking forward to working with Heidi and Dianne Sharp and Liz Mayes in the CBI North-East team to make sure our business voice is heard in national and regional policy debates.”