LEP chair to stand down

The chair of Leicester and Leicestershire LEP (LLEP) is to stand down after eight years steering the economic partnership.

Kevin Harris, who leads RSM’s Leicester office, has been LLEP chair since summer 2018 after serving as vice-chair for four years.

Former Loughborough MP and LLEP vice-chair Andy Reed OBE has been nominated to serve as interim chair from April until the AGM this autumn, when a permanent replacement will take office.

Harris said: “There’s undoubtedly lots of change still to come. We recognise that and remain bold in shaping our response to the future.

“But I’m proud that the LLEP is well set up to meet the challenges and the end of this current term therefore feels a natural point to hand the baton on to a new chair.”

Harris will remain on the LLEP Board until the AGM as he seeks to ensure a smooth transition.

His time as Chair coincided with delivery of a host of major strategic projects. These include the further development of regional enterprise zones, including Space Park Leicester and the ongoing Pavilion 4 at Sport Park on the LUSEP campus.

Mr Harris also led the LLEP’s role in the successful East Midlands Freeport bid, as well as its response to both the Pandemic and the Government’s recent Levelling Up White Paper.

Reed added: “Kevin has chaired the LLEP with huge commitment and focus during a challenging period of continual change. He is right to draw attention to the ongoing importance of the Industrial Strategy he helped to drive forward.

“The national conversation continues around the role of LEPs, in relation to County Deals and the wider Levelling Up agenda, and I look forward to working with local partners on that through to October.”