WELCOME to Yorkshire chief executive Sir Gary Verity will be put in the hot seat at an annual event on the York business calendar.

The former Yorkshire Man of the Year has been announced for the final slot on the roster of speakers at this year’s York Business Week.

Former BBC broadcaster Jon Hammond Booth will present the Q&A session, The Business of Selling Yorkshire, at York Business School on November 14.

Deputy vice chancellor for advancement at York St John University, Professor Christopher Moore, will host the evening.

Professor Moore said: “It will be a pleasure to welcome Sir Gary to York Business School.

“As well as leading the winning bid to bring the Tour de France Grand Départ to Yorkshire in 2014, generating an economic boost of over £100 million, Sir Gary has been instrumental in the creation of Yorkshire’s own international stage race, the Tour de Yorkshire, which is going from strength to strength and has attracted some of the biggest crowds in the racing calendar.

“These achievements, coupled with many others and his roles across the region and beyond, give him great insights into what makes the north of England such a special place.

“We’re looking forward to him sharing some of those insights.”

Sir Gary joins a varied list of speakers, which includes York Racecourse chief executive, William Derby, Isabel Jago, from York Instruments, a manufacturer of neurological scanning equipment, Lee Statham from Nestlé and Tim Leigh from Stage One, a Tockwith-based company that has been involved with every Olympic opening and closing ceremony since 2004.

Also speaking are representatives from Homeserve, Revolution Software, FERA Science Ltd, Digital Creativity labs, CTO Pikesel, Hiscox Direct UK, as well as Dr John Park, whose globally patented stain removal technology for Ariel has helped make millions for Procter & Gamble.

Organiser of the week-long programme, Make it York, expects to welcome 1,000 people to the city for the event, which runs from November 13 to 19 at various locations across the city.

For more information, the full event line-up and to book tickets visit www.yorkbusinessweek.co.uk