The partnership tasked with revitalising the economy of the Marches will have new leadership in 2013 as Chairman Dr Geoffrey Davies’ two year term of office comes to an end in February next year.
Dr Davies OBE is the founding chairman of the Marches LEP, the business-led private and public sector partnership for Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin. He will remain a key member of the LEP Board but will not be seeking an extension to his term as chairman next year.
He informed the LEP Board of his decision at a board meeting on Monday.
Dr Davies said: “Having spent some six years now being chairman of economic regeneration forums, including the Shropshire Business Board and the LEP, I now feel it is time to take a step back at the end of my term.
“I’m delighted with the progress that the LEP has made over my term of office, which will continue until February next year. The Marches LEP was in the first tranche of 24 LEPs to be approved by the Government, joining some of the country’s urban powerhouses in early work to help rebalance the economy in favour of the private sector.
“It has been my pleasure to have been at the forefront of this work, supported by an excellent business-led board working in partnership with the local authorities of Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin.
“I will remain on the board for a further year to ensure continuity during the search for and appointment of a new Chair and to devote more time to pushing ahead with my vision to create a National Aeronautical Academy at RAF Cosford, a joint project with the LEPs of the Black Country and Staffordshire.”
As part of the preparation to change leadership, the board appointed LEP co-opted business champion, Sir Ben Gill CBE, as Vice-Chairman. Sir Ben is a former NFU President and chairman of tourism organisation, Visit Herefordshire.
Sir Ben said: “I look forward, as Vice Chairman of the Marches LEP, to playing a key role in the evolution of the partnership. The LEP is moving rapidly into a period of consolidation enabling us to exploit the various and diverse sources of available funds to support local initiatives to grow, secure real job growth, improve our skill and education base and work to increase the general standard of living for the area.”