New chairman for Connect Gazelles

Mr Ewin is a co-founder of EW Business Development, which supports small and start-up businesses with a high growth potential

The Leeds-based Connect Gazelles - which used to be known as Connect Yorkshire - also expressed its thanks to the technology entrepreneur Richard Doyle for guiding the organisation “through a difficult period to relatively calm waters”.

A spokesman said yesterday: “When Richard took on the chairmanship in 2009, Connect Yorkshire was funded in part by the public sector, in the form of Yorkshire Forward, and in part by many of the professional service firms in Yorkshire.”

Yorkshire Forward was axed as part the Coalition Government’s austerity measures.

Nick Butler, the Connect Gazelles chief executive, said yesterday: “Since the demise of Yorkshire forward, with Richard’s substantial help, Connect Yorkshire has been transformed into the Connect Gazelles so that it is now wholly funded by the private sector while maintaining its core aim of helping Yorkshire companies grow.

“During this period, it has used the financial resources it had saved up to create the Connect Gazelles and is now cash positive. We look forward to this steady growth continuing well in to the future.”

Richard Moran, a partner and head of business services, at Leeds-based law firm Clarion, has been appointed as a director.

He will join Mr Ewin, Mr Butler, Mr Doyle, Paul Rose, Gerard Toplass and Kevin Holinrake who serve as directors without payment or expenses.