Member Article

Financier Joins The Auckland Project Board

An experienced financier, with a broad commercial background, has joined the Board of Trustees at a County Durham charity.

Having worked with both plc and private equity companies across the UK, Bob Bigley is now bringing more than 30 years’ experience in Corporate Finance to The Auckland Project, based in Bishop Auckland.

One of the biggest successes in Bob’s career to date is his four years as Corporate Development Director for R&R Ice Cream Plc, where he led international expansion of the business through mergers and acquisitions across Europe and Australia. This helped to establish R&R, since renamed Froneri, as the second largest ice cream manufacturer in the world.

Other significant posts have included Finance Director at property and investment company, Town Centre Securities PLC, partner in charge of Corporate Finance in the North for global professional services firm, KPMG and Director in charge of the Leeds office for independent UK investment bank, Hambros.

Most recently, Bob has taken on Directorships at Theta Technologies Limited, which has developed a new technology in non-destructive testing of metals and composites and at software developer, Qobo Limited.

He now joins the Board of Trustees at The Auckland Project, which aims to revitalise the future of Bishop Auckland through employment, training and educational opportunities. This will be delivered through the creation of a new arts, faith and heritage destination, centred on 900-year-old Auckland Castle.

Jonathan Ruffer, Founder of The Auckland Project, said: “Approaching £150m has been committed to The Auckland Project to date and our mission to create an internationally significant cultural destination is now becoming a reality.

“Bob’s experience in strategic business development and implementation will prove invaluable as we move into the next phase, with Auckland Castle re-opening in 2019.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by The Auckland Project .