The North East has long been a region defined by ambition, resilience and reinvention. From global brands to heritage estates and cultural institutions, its business leaders continue to shape industries far beyond the region’s borders.
The New Icons Award, part of the North East Business Titans campaign, recognises those whose leadership is not only driving commercial success, but delivering lasting cultural, social and economic impact. This year’s winners represent the very best of that ambition. Organisations and individuals who are redefining what it means to lead in the modern economy.
Roísin Currie
Chief Executive Officer, Greggs plc
Roisin Currie leads one of the UK’s most recognisable brands, steering Greggs plc, a £2 billion FTSE 250 company, through a period of sustained growth, transformation and increasing national influence.
Appointed CEO in 2022, she brought extensive experience across people strategy, retail operations and property expansion, having already played a central role in the business’s long-term development. Under her leadership, Greggs has continued to deliver record-breaking performance, with 2024 sales exceeding £2.014 billion and pre-tax profits reaching £189.8 million.
Her strategy has focused on measured but ambitious expansion, with the business now operating more than 2,650 shops nationwide and targeting over 3,000 locations by 2026. Alongside this growth, Currie has overseen diversification into drive-thru formats, extended trading hours and a broadened menu offering designed to meet changing consumer habits.
Innovation has been central to her leadership. The introduction of digital ordering through the Greggs App, partnerships with delivery platforms such as Uber Eats and Just Eat, and the expansion of the Bake at Home range into major supermarkets have all strengthened the brand’s reach beyond traditional retail environments.
Despite its scale, Currie remains focused on preserving Greggs’ North East identity and values. The business continues to prioritise affordability, accessibility and community impact, supported by initiatives such as the Greggs Foundation’s school breakfast programme, which now supports over 800 schools across the UK.
Her approach to leadership is rooted in shared success. In 2024, Greggs delivered a £20.5 million profit-sharing bonus to colleagues, reinforcing a culture where growth is directly linked to workforce reward and development.
Currie’s wider contribution to public life includes her role as Chair of the Employers Forum for Reducing Re-offending and Trustee of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. She was awarded a CBE for services to business and community.
Rhiannon Hiles
Chief Executive, Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
Rhiannon Hiles has transformed Beamish into one of the UK’s most innovative cultural institutions, redefining what a museum can be in the 21st century.
Her journey with Beamish spans nearly three decades, progressing from education and engagement roles into senior leadership before becoming Chief Executive in 2021. That deep institutional knowledge has shaped a leadership style rooted in authenticity, collaboration and long-term vision.
At the heart of her tenure is the landmark Remaking Beamish project, a multi-phase redevelopment that has expanded the museum into new eras and experiences, including a recreated 1950s Town and enhanced wellbeing and heritage spaces. The project has been driven not only by physical development, but by community co-creation, with thousands of residents contributing memories, artefacts and stories that actively shape the museum’s evolution.
This approach has positioned Beamish as a living museum in the truest sense, one that is built with and for its community, rather than simply about it.
In 2025, this vision was recognised nationally when Beamish was awarded Art Fund Museum of the Year, one of the most prestigious honours in the global museum sector.
Beyond infrastructure, Hiles has placed strong emphasis on education and inclusion. Beamish now engages tens of thousands of schoolchildren annually, using immersive storytelling to bring history, science and regional identity to life. Its programmes also extend into wellbeing and social inclusion, reinforcing the museum’s role as a community anchor.
Her influence reaches well beyond the North East. She holds national and international roles across the museum sector, contributing to strategic thinking around heritage, sustainability and open-air museum practice.
James Barker
Managing Director, Barker and Stonehouse
James Barker leads Barker and Stonehouse, the UK’s largest independent family-run furniture retailer, guiding the business through a period of sustained expansion while preserving its Northern identity and family values.
Founded in 1946, the company has evolved under his leadership from a regional retailer into a national brand with stores across the UK including London, the Midlands and Yorkshire, alongside its North East origins.
Barker has overseen a carefully managed expansion strategy, combining large-format experiential showrooms with a strong digital retail presence. This dual approach has allowed the business to adapt to changing consumer behaviour while maintaining its reputation for quality, design-led retail.
Sustainability has been a defining feature of his leadership. Long before environmental responsibility became industry standard, Barker and Stonehouse introduced initiatives such as tree planting for every delivery, increased use of reclaimed materials and a commitment to reducing environmental impact across its supply chain.
Alongside this, investment in e-commerce, digital marketing and logistics has strengthened the company’s ability to compete in a rapidly evolving retail landscape, ensuring a seamless integration between online and in-store customer experience.
The business remains a significant regional employer, supporting hundreds of jobs across retail, warehousing and head office operations, while working closely with suppliers and partners across the UK.
Barker’s leadership reflects a consistent balance of commercial growth, environmental responsibility and long-term family stewardship.
John Adamson
Owner and Managing Director, Ramside Estates
John Adamson has played a defining role in establishing Ramside Estates as one of the North East’s leading hospitality and leisure groups, transforming Ramside Hall into a flagship destination for tourism, leisure and events.
What began as a country house hotel has evolved under his leadership into a multi-faceted resort offering luxury accommodation, championship golf courses, spa facilities and large-scale conference and events spaces.
A key focus of his strategy has been continuous investment. Ramside now operates as one of the region’s most comprehensive leisure destinations, with further expansion underway through a multi-million-pound golf development designed to strengthen its national and international appeal.
The recent introduction of The Pin, a modern entertainment complex featuring a driving range, bowling alley, sports bar and event space, further broadens the estate’s offering and reinforces its position as a year-round destination.
Employment creation has remained central to Adamson’s approach. Ramside Estates supports hundreds of jobs across hospitality, leisure, golf and food and beverage operations, with a strong emphasis on training and career development.
Beyond commercial success, the estate plays an active role in the region’s cultural and charitable landscape, hosting community events, fundraisers and regional initiatives.
Adamson’s leadership is defined by long-term investment, regional pride and a commitment to enhancing the North East’s reputation as a destination for world-class hospitality.
Rory Wilson
Chief Executive, Northumberland Estates
Rory Wilson leads Northumberland Estates, the historic land and property organisation associated with the Duke of Northumberland, overseeing a diverse portfolio spanning residential, commercial, agricultural and heritage assets.
His role sits at the intersection of legacy and modernisation, ensuring that one of the UK’s most historic estates continues to operate as a commercially sustainable and forward-looking organisation.
Under his leadership, the estate has adopted a more modern, strategic approach to land and property management, integrating sustainability, data-led decision making and long-term investment planning into its operations.
Northumberland Estates plays a significant role in the regional economy, supporting employment through construction, agriculture, property development and tourism-related activity. Its stewardship of heritage assets and landscapes also contributes to the North East’s visitor economy and cultural identity.
Wilson’s leadership is defined by balance. Protecting heritage while enabling development, and ensuring that commercial decisions support long-term sustainability and legacy preservation.
His vision is to evolve Northumberland Estates into a model for how historic estates can adapt, combining conservation, innovation and economic resilience in equal measure.
