Following an extensive recruitment exercise, Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership today announced the appointment of three new business representatives to its main Board.
Over forty applications were received to fill two rotational vacancies plus an additional post allocated within recently amended corporate governance rules.
The new appointees are:
· Nick Baldwin, Chairman, Sanctuary Housing Group, Chairman, Office of Nuclear Regulation
· Chris Walklett FCA, Partner, Bishop Fleming
· Dr Simon Murphy, Interim CEO, Worcester Community Trust, Chair, Sandwell Property Partnership and former MEP
The Board also welcomes back Professor David Green, Vice Chancellor and CEO of the University of Worcester, who fills the newly allocated higher education position.
As a result of other recent changes, Councillor Margaret Sherrey, Leader of Bromsgrove District Council, takes over the local authority representative role on behalf of Worcestershire’s three northern district councils, also including Redditch and Wyre Forest. Also Stuart Laverick, Principal of the newly amalgamated Heart of Worcestershire College, has taken over the Further Education post on the LEP Board.
The other ongoing Members of the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership Board are:
· Peter Pawsey (Executive Chair) – Chairman of Robert West Consulting and Non-Executive Director of Midland Heart
· Simon Geraghty – Deputy Leader, Worcestershire County Council
· David Hughes – Leader, Malvern Hills District Council (representing the southern district councils)
· Carl Arntzen – Managing Director, Bosch Thermotechnology Ltd
In addition, the Chair of the LEP’s Business Board, yet to be elected, will complete the newly constituted LEP Board of eleven members.
Membership of the Business Board has also been under review and is set for major refreshment. An announcement will be made shortly regarding both continuing and new members together with details of the newly appointed Business Board Chair.
Peter Pawsey, Executive Chair at Worcestershire LEP, commented: “We were delighted to receive such an extensive and high quality response to our call for new Board and Business Board members. As the LEP enters a new phase with a greater focus on delivery of projects funded through the Worcestershire Growth Deal, I am confident that our newly constituted Board will not only be fit for purpose but also revitalised with fresh ideas, skills and energy. I would like to thank all those who applied to join either of our Boards. I particularly want to sincerely thank Alan White and Dean Attwell, who are now stepping down from the Board and also Councillor John Campion and John Callaghan, who recently moved on to new commitments elsewhere, for their contributions as Board Members. As we move forward we recognise that these are very positive and exciting times for Worcestershire.”
