Board shake-up at Manchester LEP
SIEMENS executive Juergen Maier and Lou Cordwell, co-founder of digital design agency Magnetic North, are among four new board members at the Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).
They are joined by Wayne Jones, chief executive of MAN Primeserv Diesel in Stockport, which handles after sales for MAN Diesel engines, and David Birch, a London-based director of global management consultancy McKinsey and Company.
The four have replaced Roger Milburn, director of engineering firm Ove Arup; Alison Tumilty, finance director of Rathbone Training; Neil McArthur, chairman and head of innovation at Talk Talk Technology; and Ken Knott, chief executive of Manchester developer Ask Developments.
Co-op’s chief executive Peter Marks is also stepping down as he is retiring from the Co-op next month. This leaves one free place on the private sector panel and further candidates will be assessed. But a LEP report on the board changes notes that Jim O’Neill, the recently-retired Manchester-born economist, previously chairman of Goldman Sachs Asset Management, is interested in joining.
The LEP board has nine private sector members, four local authority members and two observers. Three private sector members will stay on. These are: Scott Fletcher, chairman of IT firm ANS Group; Keith Johnston, partner at law firm Addleshaw Goddard and Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell, vice chancellor at Manchester University.
The report said the changes followed a review of the board’s membership which involved meetings with all private sector members to evaluate their “motivation and commitment”, as well as the contributions they have made so far. London-based recruitment firm Penna, which has an office in Manchester, was hired to handle the appointments.
LEP chair Mike Blackburn said: “I’m delighted to welcome David, Lou, Wayne and Juergen to the board. Together, they bring a whole range of skills and experience to the table – particularly from the manufacturing, international, creative and digital sectors – which are key growth areas for Greater Manchester.
“I look forward to working with them during their tenure to help steer the city and surrounding area through these challenging times. I would also like to thank those board members who are outgoing at this time. Their drive and commitment has helped to put Greater Manchester in a good position to deliver against its growth strategy.”
