Science Park boss announces he is stepping down after a decade as CEO

The head of Liverpool Science Park has announced he is standing down.

Chris Musson revealed in a series of Tweets that, after almost 10 years as chief executive of Liverpool Science Park (LSP), he is to step down this month.

He said: “In that time I have overseen the company’s transformation from a series of grant-dependent projects into a fully functioning city-based science park with a national reputation.”

Mr Musson said he felt the time was right to leave now LSP has established a working relationhip with Sciontec, the brand given to Liverpool’s Knowledge Quarter spin-out development company.

“The exciting development of closer working between LSP and Sciontec, and the prospect of securing external private sector investment, provided a perfect juncture for me to consider my future career priorities,” he said.

He added: “Following discussions with the board, I decided the time was right to move on.

“It has been a privilege to have performed the role of chief executive, to have worked with so many great innovative companies and, in particular, to have worked with my wonderful team, who have made it such a pleasure coming to work.”

One of the first to react was Liverpool councillor, and former assistant mayor of Liverpool, Nick Small, who praised Mr Musson, saying: “Liverpool Science Park has gone from strength-to-strength under your leadership.”

Liverpool Science Park was established in 2006 with the completion of the 36,000 sq ft Innovation Centre 1.

Within its first year of existence, IC1 attracted more than 50 new companies to the city, which further enhanced Liverpool’s position as a leading centre of knowledge and enterprise.

Nanotechnologies, healthcare, information technology, biotechnology, research and development into the automotive industry and specialist support services all have a strong presence at Liverpool Science Park which is situated between Mount Pleasant and Brownlow Hill.

Since IC1 opened, a second building, IC2, was added and in 2014, a large extension to IC1 opened containing 40,000 sq ft of commercial laboratory and office space.

In total, the science park now provides 120,000 sq ft of high-specification Grade A accommodation and laboratory space in the heart Knowledge Quarter Liverpool.

A short statement on the LSP website said: “Chris will stand down at the beginning of March 2019. Interim arrangements will be led by the board.”