02 Sep Azeem Akhtar joins @ActiveEssex as new Chair
Active Essex, the Sport and Physical Activity Partnership for Greater Essex, has announced that Azeem Akhtar will be joining the board as the new Chair.
Working on one of BT’s biggest global outsource contracts Azeem is currently Global Chief Technology Officer and Head of Engineering. He joins Active Essex on a voluntary basis to help increase participation in sport and physical activity across the county as well as contribute to and support the work of the Partnership.
Recently named as one of the top 100 BAME (Black and Ethnic Minority) business leaders in the UK and with experience working in both the private and public sector, Essex-born Azeem is passionate about supporting local causes and a strong believer in promoting sport as a means to both keep fit and foster a culture of achievement which can permeate other spheres of life.
Commenting on his appointment, Azeem Akhtar said: “I am absolutely delighted to join the board at Active Essex. I am a keen sportsman playing cricket, football, tennis and squash and am passionate about physical activity as a means of both keeping fit and fostering a culture of achievement that impacts other areas of your life. I can use my profile, experience and strategic thinking to continue to drive Active Essex’s ambition to get more people across Greater Essex involved with sport and physical activities.”
Outgoing Chair, Gary Sullivan OBE, was elected to the Active Essex board in 2013 to deliver a sustainable and lasting legacy of sport and physical activity participation in Essex following the Olympic and Paralympic Games in London which translated into success for Hadleigh Park and Basildon Sporting Village.
Gary Sullivan said: “It has been an honour and privilege working with the board at Active Essex, ECC and Sport England over the last four years. It has been very rewarding to see the passion and energy that has gone into delivering a successful sports strategy for people of all ages and abilities across the county. I wish Azeem the very best as he joins the team and I would like to thank all the people of Greater Essex who are helping to get the county moving.”
Through Active Essex, the County Sports Partnership with Essex County Council and Sport England, we have supported and encouraged over 600,000 people to get involved in sport and physical activity.
Director of Active Essex, Jason Fergus said: “The work that Active Essex is doing is crucial to make sure participation in sport and physical activity in Greater Essex continues to grow. Gary has created a really strong foundation and established a positive sporting legacy in the county. I would like to thank Gary for his determination and passion over the last four years and I look forward to working with Azeem to build upon the successes we have delivered so far.”
For more information about Active Essex, please visit: www.activeessex.org
