The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has made three new appointments to its member-led national Board of Directors.
I.T., cyber security and digital transformation specialist Olu Odeniyi and information management entrepreneur Alison North are joining the Board as Directors.
Meanwhile, recruitment and employment services entrepreneur, Tina McKenzie, is taking up the newly created role of Deputy Chair, Policy and Advocacy (UK).
All three are experienced member volunteers at FSB, and will join the existing national Board of Directors, which is made up of FSB member small business owners.
FSB National Chairman Mike Cherry said: “FSB is proud to represent the UK’s small business and self-employed community. Our volunteers, alongside a dedicated staff team, work hard to support entrepreneurs right across the country and in every sector, and to give small businesses the big voice they deserve. Tina, Olu and Alison bring a wealth of experience and enthusiasm, and I’m delighted to welcome them to the national Board of Directors.”
Tina McKenzie, who has spent more than three years as Chair of FSB’s Northern Ireland Policy Unit, said: “The last couple of years have been an incredibly challenging period for small businesses across the UK, and in my volunteer role in Northern Ireland I have been privileged to be in a position to make the small business voice heard loudly and clearly as the Brexit process happened and then the Covid pandemic struck. I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to take up a UK-wide role, and I’m committed to continue making sure the needs of small businesses are front-of-mind with our political decision-makers.”
Olu Odeniyi, an FSB volunteer in Thames Valley, said: “As a small business owner, I am passionate about helping other businesses to achieve their ambitions. I have long been involved in projects and volunteer roles to achieve positive change and relish the opportunity to join the Board and continue this work at a UK level. I’m delighted to have the chance to play my part in helping FSB deliver superior value to members and to ensure it continues to represent the rich breadth of the small business community.”
Alison North, who has served as FSB’s Area Lead for Swindon and Wiltshire, said: “Having been in business for 35 years, I’m dedicated to bringing my knowledge and experience to listen to members and understand their needs on a practical basis for today, and as a future-thinking basis for tomorrow. I’m looking forward to working alongside other Board members and volunteers to bring inspiration, innovation and pragmatism to support FSB as an agile, connected, knowledgeable, diverse organisation continuing to support small businesses of all sizes.”
