HERBERT Kim strikes me as a fascinating person. The new chief executive of one of the much-feted centres of excellence would appear to have enjoyed a diverse and challenging life in business.

However, it was the means by which he was attracted to the North-East as much as the skills he brings with him that raised an eyebrow (see page 6 for more details).

Word of mouth is a powerful tool - powerful enough, it would seem, to attract a well-educated American to our neck of the woods.

If only there were enough friends like Herb's out there, we would not perhaps be moved so often to bemoan the lack of skills, high quality jobs and PLCs in the region.

Another newcomer to a job - if not the region - is in the driving seat on this issue.

As this is my first column since the appointment of a new chairman for regional development agency One NorthEast, I would like to offer my congratulations to Margaret Fay.

As coincidence would have it, we were rostered on to the same judging panel for a business awards. I found her an engaging, enthusiastic and knowledgeable person.

Those who have voiced snide remarks about whether a former accounts clerk should head the RDA should look closely at their own work roots. The skills which make Margaret an enjoyable person to meet are those which are needed to attract the Herbs of this world to the North.

Hopefully, Herb and his colleagues in the other four centres will back this by making a resounding success of their jobs and by giving the region a magnetic draw for talented individuals.

ON A different note, thank heavens for the Competition Commission.

Those fine fellows who spoil the plans for world domination by companies with a voracious appetite for growth may well yet play an important part in my life.

For they appear to be the only people to stand in the way of Sir Ken Morrison destroying any option of choice when it comes to the weekly shop.

If, as predicted, he wins the battle for Safeway, he will own no fewer than six establishments in Darlington.

I would happily see Morrisons become the fourth player in the supermarket game, but the CC will undoubtedly force Sir Ken to give me a wider choice of where to get my groceries.

Published: 12/08/2003