CEO appointed at East Midlands Freeport

East Midlands Freeport (EMF), the UK’s only inland Freeport, has appointed Tom Newman-Taylor as CEO.

Tom is an experienced senior leader in Government having latterly held positions in the Department for Levelling Up, Communities and Housing (DLUHC) and Department for Transport. He has a strong track record in delivering major commercial and strategic projects across the transport, energy and housing sectors, within and outside Government.  As a Deputy Director in the Maritime Directorate he established and ran the cross-Government Critical Freight Taskforce, preventing a catastrophic failure of international and domestic freight networks during Covid-19.  This included implementing a multi-million subsidy regime for the international freight sector. 

He has developed strategies for Government across housing and transport, including a long-term environmental strategy for the maritime sector as part of the Government’s Maritime 2050 Strategy. Earlier in his career he also helped deliver billion-pound Government investments into train and railway improvements.

He spent a period in industry as Commercial Projects Lead with Associated British Ports where he was responsible for establishing ABP’s port master planning programme, delivering long-term commercial and geospatial plans for ports across the country.

In announcing the appointment, EMF Chair, Nora Senior CBE, said: “We are delighted to have attracted an individual of the calibre and with the experience that Tom brings.  His knowledge of Government departments and policies will be a significant advantage in allowing the Freeport to access and build on trade and innovation opportunities to the benefit of prospective occupiers on the site.”

Tom Newman-Taylor added: “I am hugely excited by the potential which EMF offers to bring growth to a strategically significant part of the UK. A successful Freeport will bring lasting benefits to the East Midlands by attracting significant new investment and creating high quality jobs for the communities who live around our sites. I cannot wait to help realise this ambition and help bring together local public and private sector partners on behalf of the East Midlands and the UK.”

Tom starts his position with EMF in March.