Property boss takes helm of retail body
PROPERTY director Richard Norgrove has been appointed chairman of Birmingham’s Retail Business Improvement District (BID).
Mr Norgrove has been a director at city-based Hortons’ Estate since 2008 and on the board of Retail BID since 2009.
He replaces Grand Central’s general manager Jonathan Cheetham as chairman who will remain on the board as a co-optee to focus on public realm and business crime improvements.
Retail BID has also appointed four new board members – Sam Watts and Lisa Williams, general managers of Selfridges and John Lewis respectively, Phil Innes from Loki Wine and Nick Loveland, chief operating officer at Town Hall Symphony Hall.
Last year, the BID secured a vote renewal to continue serving members until 2022.
Mr Norgrove said: “I am pleased to be taking over from the good work Jonathan has done as chair and I’m looking forward to working with the existing team during the third term of the BID together with the members of the board. The work done has been excellent in promoting retail in the city and what it has to offer and I hope to be able to continue that.
“It is an exciting time for Birmingham with the amount of investment and development and it is important momentum is maintained and the retail and leisure offer in the centre supports that.
“We are hoping to see some improvements in the city in areas such as the public realm to ensure the visitor experience is maximised as far as possible.”