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New-look board at TechWM

2025-04-05 01:09:06 By

The new-look board at business body TechWM (from left): Naomi Nash, chairman Jason Sahota, Anushka Malhotra, Katherine Fuller, Emma Jones, founder Yiannis Maos and outgoing chairwoman Kim Leary

A business body for the region's tech industry has unveiled a raft of new appointments.

Birmingham-based TechWM has appointed a new chairman alongside new board members.

The expansion comes as the organisation celebrates significant growth in revenue and ahead of the sixth annual Birmingham Tech Week in October.

Jason Sahota, a seasoned technology and business leader and private equity adviser, has taken on the role of chairman.

He has more than 20 years of experience including advisory positions focussed on technology start-ups and scale-ups in the West Midlands.

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Mr Sahota will replace Kim Leary who remains on the board, having been chairwoman since 2020.

She is a founding member of the TechWM board as she joined after the first Birmingham Tech Week in 2019.

She said: "I stepped into the chair role at a time when Birmingham Tech Week was in its infancy because I truly believed in its purpose.

"That was nearly five years ago and, naturally, the time has come for me to step down as chair. However, I will remain a board member because that belief still burns strong and I know there is more to do.

"TechWM has achieved so many successes and has become a vital part of the tech ecosystem here in the West Midlands.

"However, personally speaking, I am most proud of the role I have played in transitioning the board from being very operational to the diverse and strategic force it is now.

"We have a wonderful team in place and I am confident that the organisation will continue to thrive and make a significant impact in the years to come."

TechWM has also welcomed new board members including vice-chairwoman Elizabeth Zeddie Lawal, who founded creative agency More Than A Moment, and Joanna Birch, chief innovation officer with property investor Woodbourne.

Completing the new appointments is Daniel Campion, chief executive of software firm Sitenna.

The appointees bring more than 40 years of combined business and tech experience from fields such as telecoms, mergers and acquisitions and cultural industries.

This expansion comes at a time when TechWM has welcomed revenue growth of 78 per cent in the year to July 2024.

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