Leeds and Partners chief exec to step down

THE chief executive of Leeds and Partners, Lurene Joseph, is to step down.

In a statement today, chair of the inward investment agency, Asda chief executive officer and president Andy Clarke said under the leadership of Joseph, the organisation has transformed the way that the city and wider region approaches inward investment and driving growth in the visitor economy.

He said the organisation has undergone a significant period of transition and transformation to reach its current phase of focusing on development and delivery. 

“Lurene’s stewardship has delivered, among other things; the creation of over 1,200 jobs, £10m incremental spend in the visitor economy and the development of a mature investment pipeline; all of which is well over the target set and ahead of the timescale for delivery,” he said.

Leeds and Partners said Joseph believes that against this backdrop, the time is right for her to pursue new challenges in the private sector and to continue her work on private sector boards.

Joseph will be leaving Leeds and Partners in spring 2015.

Clarke said: “I would like to thank Lurene personally for her achievements during her tenure. She will leave a lasting legacy for future delivery. On behalf of the board of Leeds and Partners, I would like to express our appreciation for her outstanding contribution and support, and to wish her well for the future.”

Roger Marsh, chair of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) added: “In the past two years, the Leeds City Region has made significant progress in positioning itself nationally and internationally as a magnet for investment, creating jobs and sustainable, good growth.

“Leeds and Partners under Lurene’s leadership has played a key role in unlocking this growth by delivering a new, strategic approach to attracting inward investment, and developing a strong set of propositions for investors in key growth sectors.

“The foundations are now in place for us to deliver, through collective effort, the above-trend growth that is at the heart of our plans to transform the region into a net contributor to national prosperity.”

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