Interim chief executive appointment for new development company

Colin Sinclair

Following a formal recruitment process, Colin Sinclair, chief executive of Knowledge Quarter Liverpool (KQ Liverpool), has taken up the dual role of Interim CEO of the newly-formed Knowledge Quarter Development Company.

The new company, jointly owned by Liverpool City Council, Liverpool John Moores University and the University of Liverpool, will work with investors to boost the Liverpool City Region’s offer in science and tech and build a world-leading innovation eco-system to increase the commercialisation of academic research, foster more spin-outs and start-ups and help innovation-led businesses to grow.

With an initial focus on Liverpool Science Park and Sensor City, the development company will look to enhance the existing facilities and will support the accelerator by creating a single point of contact for sales and marketing.

Once further private sector investment has been secured the company will look to develop and operate new science and tech facilities across the city region.

Professor Nigel Weatherill, vice chancellor of LJMU, said: “As we seek to compete with other cities, both nationally and internationally, it is vital that we build on what the Knowledge Quarter partners, Colin and the team have achieved over the last two years, in order to encourage more start-ups, help innovation-led businesses to grow and win new inward investment”.

Professor Dame Janet Beer, vice chancellor of Liverpool University, said: “The future of the UK economy post-Brexit will rely heavily on the relationships between our world-leading universities and hospitals, local government and, importantly, the private sector.

“Colin’s appointment to this new role will give us the experience and expertise we need to attract significant long term, sustainable investment, into our science and tech infrastructure.”

Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, said: “What we have achieved in the Knowledge Quarter Mayoral Development Zone in just two short years is absolute proof of how important it is to our economy and job creation.

“The formation of this new development company will enable even greater collaboration and we are building a world-leading innovation district right here in Liverpool.”

Colin Sinclair said: “Liverpool has an increasingly strong international brand and is now, once again, seen globally as a place of opportunity.

“By working collaboratively and by focusing on health and education, science and technology we can make a real difference to the city, its region and the lives of the people that live, work and study here”.

Colin, formerly chief executive at Manchester Investment and Development Agency (MIDAS) and director at property developer Bruntwood, has been in post at KQ Liverpool for the past two years.

During this time, he has supported Liverpool City Council with their Paddington Village and Knowledge Quarter Gateway developments, while contributing to many other key projects in the city, including the Liverpool brand work, the Liverpool MIPIM partnership, the City Region’s emerging internationalisation strategy, the creation of the Fabric District and he is also the chair of Club Liverpool, which attracts global conferences and exhibitions to the city.

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