James’s cash in the ATTIK

Former Batley School of Art student James Sommerville will join Huddersfield Town Chairman Dean Hoyle and Ajaz Ahmed, the founder of internet provider Freeserve, at the event in March.

James, Dean and Ajaz will feature alongside business figures from all over the region, to offer advice and guidance. James said: “For tomorrow’s successful businesses, it will not necessarily be about price, speed, location, plant and tools, or last year’s bottom line. Nor will it be about the past, the size, the client list, or the advertising. It will be about people.

“Those people who are on the inside running the business and the people on the outside, buying, or assisting the business. The Yorkshire Mafia is all about people. That’s why I think everyone in business, in Yorkshire, should be involved in some way.”

Ajaz added: “The Yorkshire Mafia’s reach and influence has grown considerably and as such has become the voice for Yorkshire business. Its concept, application and execution of services are first class and this inaugural conference is a much needed boost to the Yorkshire business environment. The landscape is still harsh for us all out there but these guys are doing something about it and I’m proud to be part of the conference and the group as a whole.”

Mirfield businessman Danny Matharu of conference organisers Hillrich said the team was delighted to have James and Ajaz on the panel.

After studying at Batley School of Art, James co-founded ATTIK during the economic downtown in 1987 in a cramped attic bedroom in Huddersfield. Today it has offices in Leeds, San Francisco and Santa Monica and its client list includes Sony, Virgin, Microsoft, Nike and eBay. In addition James has advised the Coca-Cola Company on major strategic campaigns such as the FIFA World Cup and London 2012 Olympics.