Hunt on for new chief of region’s LEP
THE hunt has started to find a new figurehead to lead Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership.
The LEP has enlisted the help of executive recruitment agency Berwick Partners to run the search for a new chairman to spearhead the private sector-led business growth body.
Steve Hollis, former Midlands chairman of financial services firm KPMG, will step down in September after he took over the role last year when incumbent Andy Street quit to fight the West Midlands mayoral election.
Mr Hollis said: “When the LEP was formed in 2011, the Greater Birmingham region was an economic laggard compared to its UK regional counterparts.
“Wind forward to 2017 and our region is a standout economic success story, leading the way in job creation, business start-ups, exports and inward investment.
“Household names have and are making this region their home and, with HS2, we will be at the centre of one of the largest infrastructure projects the UK has ever embarked on.”
The LEP said it was seeking a prominent business leader who was a “passionate champion” of Greater Birmingham and could demonstrate a proven track record of strategic leadership and delivering complex multi stakeholder programmes.
Coun Bob Sleigh, deputy mayor and LEP board member, added: “As a region, we should be incredibly proud of the achievements that we have secured in the last few years.
“This position presents a fantastic opportunity to work with the private and public sectors in Greater Birmingham and Solihull, playing an active and influential role in the West Midlands Combined Authority and in the Midlands Engine, to develop effective relationships that will support continued growth.”
The non-executive role is for a three-year period.