Member Article

North East LEP begins search for new chief executive

North East LEP has started the recruitment process for a new chief executive to implement region’s Strategic Economic Plan

Former chief executive Ed Twiddy stepped down from the position in April of this year, shortly after handing in to Government a £760m masterplan for growth.

Twiddy left the partnership take up an executive position at new North East digital bank Atom.

In June, City of Durham MP Roberta Blackman-Woods told the Commons that the LEP was “barely functional” without a chief executive.

Rockpools recruitment agency has been appointed to lead the search on behalf of the North East LEP’s board and the North East Combined Authority.

North East LEP chairman, Paul Woolston, said: “It’s good news that the recruitment process has started for a new chief executive. We are seeking a talented individual to take charge of the integrated team delivering the SEP and build on the LEP’s achievements to date.

“Last month we successfully secured £290 million from the Government’s Growth Deal to take forward our plans. The money – which will help create more than 4,000 jobs and attract an additional £90 million in public and private sector investment – puts us in the top three LEPs for local growth, as we are for European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) investment. That is a clear endorsement of national and European confidence in our plans.

“The region is also one of three LEP areas chosen to run a skills pilot, which will play a vital role in creating the more and better jobs pledged in the SEP.

“We are a business-led proactive LEP: we commissioned Lord Adonis to carry out his independent review into how we could create sustained economic growth for the region, and the SEP sets out the nitty-gritty of how we will achieve this, but we need an experienced and inspirational chief executive to knit all the strands together.”

Candidates with substantial leadership experience and with proven successes working with both the public and private sectors should contact Rockpools recruitment in the first instance. For more details, go to www.rockpools.co.uk.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ellen Forster .