As deputy chair in a team headed up by reforming Labour peer Lord Adonis, Mottram will be hearing expert evidence and help develop a set of strategic interventions for the region.
Other members of the panel, drawn together by the region’s Local Enterprise Partnership, include the Bishop of Durham and ex-Observer editor Will Hutton.
Mottram said: “The turbulence of the past few years means that the economic landscape of the North East has changed significantly, and we need to assess its key strengths and the most effective routes forward for business, industry and training to boost the area’s productivity and employment growth.”
The review has central government backing and its findings will be submitted to deputy prime minister Nick Clegg.