Andrew Jackson Solicitors LLP corporate partner Susie Mortonson has been appointed Chair of York Professionals, a thriving business organisation in the city.

Susie, who joined the firm 18 months ago, will lead the 160-strong group as it marches towards a major milestone.

Launched in 2001 to help drive the vision for York to be a globally recognised centre for business and enterprise, while ensuring those delivering professional services helped champion economic growth, Susie aims to contribute to the momentum, as a quarter of a century of operations of the group closes in.

She said: “I’m really thrilled to take on the role. I’ve been involved on a broader level for quite some time now and seen it go from strength to strength and grow as an organisation, so it is really exciting to take the helm.”

“I want to help continue that trajectory, and ensure members feel they are part of a great local business community, and that they are getting value for their membership.”

The corporate specialist, who has practiced law in the Yorkshire and Humber region for 17 years, moved to the city 12 years ago, and was introduced to York Professionals by a former colleague. She is passionate about local businesses succeeding regionally and beyond.

“I started going along to York Professionals to get to know people,” she said, having arrived onto the professional scene in York from Leeds where she had previously worked for two major commercial law firms. “I met so many people in such a short space of time, and meeting people regularly was really beneficial to building long-term and valuable relationships. It is so friendly and welcoming, with such a breadth of membership – people are bound to meet someone new. Now I’m always looking to get people involved!” 

Susie joined the York Professionals board eight years ago, and has served as vice chair for the past three. Now the group’s looming 25th anniversary is set to be a real source of pride too.

“We’ll be looking to make the most of it with some special events for the membership. It is quite a big deal; not that many business networking organisations reach such a milestone,” Susie said.

The organisation hosts a wide variety of networking and social events, at well-known venues in and around the city of York and wider North Yorkshire region, together with some more unusual behind-the-scenes experiences. “We aim to provide our city’s professionals with a good selection of events to choose from, from the more traditional networking to seeing parts of the city that they would not usually experience, such as behind the scenes at York Minster.” Susie’s appointment comes as York Professionals’ board was recently strengthened, with six new faces added.

Regional law firm, Andrew Jackson Solicitors LLP, recently celebrated its 150th anniversary. Originally based in Hull, the firm now operates out of four regional offices, and first established a physical presence in York in 2013, with the firm now occupying Foss Islands House, following a period of rapid growth.