THE managing director of confectionery company Nestlé Rowntree has been chosen to promote Yorkshire as a home for science and innovation.
Chris White will be the first chairman of Yorkshire Science.
He is the man credited with reviving KitKat sales for the first time in years.
Mr White said: "I'm looking forward to promoting the great work that is done in Yorkshire in the fields of science and technology.
"We have some fantastic resources at our disposal and it's important to make sure we make the most of them."
Working with leading academic and business figures, Yorkshire Science will promote the region's science and technology expertise and facilities.
His appointment is backed by regeneration agency Yorkshire Forward.
Susan Johnson, the agency's business development director, said: "The Yorkshire and Humber region spends more than £650m a year on research and development, generating new ideas and processes.
"We need to be able to exploit this fully and bring all the strands of science in its various forms together to promote the region to the wider global market.
"Competition is strong and we need to be there with the very best."
