THE North-East Process Industry Cluster (Nepic) has appointed DR STAN HIGGINS as chief executive.

Nepic was recently formed by the merger of two organisations in the North-East, the Pharmaceutical and Speciality (P&S) Cluster and the Teesside Chemical Initiative (TCI).

Bob Coxon, chairman of the board of Nepic, said: "Stan has the experience of the industrial sectors that make up Nepic and the almost unique experience of setting up and running a regional industry cluster organisation.

"The success of the P&S Cluster, particularly in the active network and supply chain support which has been built by Stan and his team, will be invaluable in developing Nepic to service the whole North-East region and all the process industry sectors involved."

Dr Higgins has gained experience of business, research and operations in the UK and Europe, North America and Asia.

Nepic will operate from two centres, one covering the north of the region and based at RTC North, in Sunderland, and one covering the south of the region, at the Wilton Centre, near Redcar, in east Cleveland.