A FORMER North-East steel boss is to join coal and transport firm Hargreaves Services to lead its growing international business.

Phil Dryden, ex-chief executive of SSI UK in Redcar, takes up his new position as group business development director following Hargreaves' first major contract award in Asia, a five-year deal with China Light and Power in the coal-fired power station sector.

Gordon Banham, Hargreaves’ group chief executive, said: “We are looking at new growth opportunities on an international stage, with a view to successfully exporting our proven UK business model in the power generation and steel sectors.

“Phil Dryden joins us having led the successful restart of steelmaking on Teesside during his three years as CEO of SSI UK.  His experience will add significantly to our rapidly growing international business expertise; in the short term he will concentrate on opportunities in Asia and South Africa, working closely with our Industrial Services Division senior management team.”

Mr Dryden said: “To be asked by Hargreaves to lead their new international expansion is a very exciting opportunity for me; the chance to be at the forefront of a new and growing business is one that I simply could not turn down, and I am looking forward to the challenges my new role will bring”.