Black Country LEP loses vice-chair as Wouhra steps down
THE entrepreneur behind East End Foods has become the second high profile West Midlands business figure in as many days to step down from his local enterprise partnership duties.
Jason Wouhra was deputy chairman of the Black Country LEP, however, he has announced he is to leave his role to focus on his business.
His departure comes a day after Coventry & Warwickshire LEP was left reeling by the news chairman Denys Shortt is to step down from his role.
Mr Wouhra’s food business is one of the UK’s leading spice, lentil and rice specialists, with an annual turn-over in excess of £120m. It recently opened a new £10.5m depot in Aston on the site of the former HP factory.
The LEP was already a man down following the retirement of John McDonough as managing director at Wolverhampton-based Carillion.
Stewart Towe, chair of the Black Country LEP, said: “Over the last 18 months we have helped open up funding streams of more than £100m for local business and laid the foundations for 10,000 new jobs and it is important that the efforts and contributions of those involved are recognised.
“I am extremely grateful to the support I received from Jason Wouhra in his role as vice-chairman while John McDonough helped get our business friendly planning charter up and running before his retirement.”
The Coventry & Warwickshire LEP has said it is confident it will have a new chair in place within the next month.
Louise Bennett, chief executive of the Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce, said Mr Shortt’s work had left a very buoyant organisation.
“A tremendous amount has been achieved in the first 18 months and Denys’s energy and enthusiasm have been key to that success,” she said.
“The LEP has a very clear remit to break down the barriers to growth and Denys is a very passionate advocate of business.
“The LEP wishes him well for what is clearly an exciting time for his own company.”
The LEP board, made up of private and public sector representatives, meets in the middle of next month.
