More 350 of the South West’s senior business figures will gather this Thursday for the CBI South West’s annual dinner when the keynote speaker will CBI director-general John Cridland.
The black tie event at The Marriott City Centre Hotel, Bristol, will also hear from Major General Andy Salmon CMG OBE. The C Group co-founder and honorary president and until recently, commandant general Royal Marines, is set to deliver an informative and entertaining speech.
Also speaking will be Kevin Gardiner – managing director, research, economics & strategy, Barclays Wealth. Kevin leads a team of analysts based in London, New York, Singapore, Mumbai and Tokyo. Prior to joining Barclays in 2009, he worked at a number of investment banks and the Bank of England in a financial market career covering more than 20 years.
Mr Cridland, 49, joined the CBI as a policy adviser in 1982 and became the CBI’s youngest-ever director in 1991 when he took over the environment affairs brief.
He was appointed deputy director-general in 2000 and became director-general earlier this year.
The CBI South West annual dinner has become a key date in the region’s business calendar, attracting many of the South West's leading businessmen and women as well as key political figures.
David Rosser, from the CBI South West, said: “The dinner has established itself as the most respected event of its kind in the region and is widely viewed as a perfect environment for networking and entertaining key customers.”
Fraser MacKay, Barclays Corporate, head of Bristol and South West, added: “The CBI South West Annual Dinner gives business owners and leaders the opportunity to hear first hand thought-provoking views that will engage the audience, encourage debate around pertinent issues and address some of the questions raised by today’s world.
“It is the must-attend business event of the year and one Barclays is proud to be associated with.”
