THE chief executive of East Coast Rail has joined a number of business leaders from Yorkshire to be shortlisted for the national IoD Director of the Year award.

Karen Boswell, who has been praised for steering the York-headquartered rail company to stabilisation and profitability, has been shortlisted in the Large Company category for the October finals in London.

Mrs Boswell who is now gearing the company up for re-privatisation next year is joined on the shortlist by other directors recognised by the business lobbying organisation.

Elsewhere in Yorkshire Gav Winter, managing director of the Test People in Leeds has been shortlisted in the Small and Medium category for his work while Julia Gash, founder and managing director of Sheffield’s Bag it Don’t Bin it, has also been recognised.

Gary Verity, chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire and the man who fronted the successful Le Grand Depart in Yorkshire, is shortlisted in the Public and Third Sector and Andrew Seaton, managing director for Resolve IT Solutions, in Shefflield, is up for the Young Director award. The winners will be unveiled on October 24 at the Lancaster London hotel.