GROUNDWORK St Helens have appointed Mike O'Brien as their new executive director with the task of taking the organisation into the next millennium.

The 42-year-old who is married with two children, was brought up in Eccleston and still lives in St Helens. His father is a former West Park teacher and both his grandfather and great grandfather served as mayors of St Helens.

A former West Park Grammar School pupil, Mike went to Leicester Polytechnic to complete a BA in public administration in 1979. He then gained an MA/GQSW in applied social studies at the University of Warwick in 1985 and is currently taking a post-graduate diploma course in management studies.

Mike, who comes to Groundwork from his job as the North West regional director of the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, a national charity delivering personal and community development through practical conservation experience, said: "I am delighted to be given this opportunity. With Groundwork's programmes now being piloted in Liverpool, I feel we will go from strength to strength. I look forward to making contact with local authority, business and community partners in the near future.

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