THE East of England Development Agency (EEDA) has taken the unusual step of unveiling a chief gorilla in the line-up of business experts for Destination Growth 09 – the East of England s biggest business and networking event, in November. But this gor

THE East of England Development Agency (EEDA) has taken the unusual step of unveiling a 'chief gorilla' in the line-up of business experts for Destination Growth '09 - the East of England's biggest business and networking event, in November.

But this gorilla's business acumen has seen him build a multi-million pound company, employing 400 people across the UK, in just seven years.

Tristram Mayhew's business card reads 'chief gorilla' rather than chief executive. In 2002, he and his wife Rebecca founded Go Ape! - a multi award-winning high-wire forest adventure. Now, with 22 courses across the country, over 1.7 million 'gorillas' and 'baboons' have trekked from tree to tree, through the forest canopy and across rope bridges, Tarzan swings and zip slides.

At Destination Growth '09, Tristram will talk to delegates about how creative marketing and innovative thinking has helped grow Go Ape! into a national brand. In his seminar on 'Gorilla Marketing' he will outline the fun they have had playing with a multitude of marketing techniques, from traditional methods to the world of Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

Tristram Mayhew joins the likes of Greg Dyke, former director-general of the BBC, as a speaker at EEDA's flagship biennial business event, which will take place at AirSpace Duxford on Tuesday November 3.