Major automotive figure takes the helm at C&W LEP

A MAJOR name from the automotive sector is to succeed Sir Peter Rigby as chairman of the Coventry & Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CW LEP).

Jonathan Browning, who was most recently president and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America and is a former managing director of Jaguar, will succeed the Rigby Group boss who will step down after the March board meeting.

Rigby announced last year that he would retire from the role after guiding the LEP for the last 20 months. He has spearheaded the hunt for his successor.

Browning, who has long standing family ties in Warwickshire, has held a succession of high-profile global automotive roles.

He began his career in sales and marketing at Vauxhall in the 1980s and rose to become executive director of marketing for General Motors Europe. He took a similar post with Ford before spending two years as the managing director of Jaguar.

Browning returned to General Motors and then became the chairman of Vauxhall Motors.

He has spent more than three years in his current position heading up Volkswagen’s business the US.  He has led the Volkswagen business as well as overseeing the other group brands: Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini and Bugatti.

Browning, who takes up his LEP role in the third week of April, said: “I was looking for challenging and important roles when I return to the UK and chairman of the CWLEP certainly fits those descriptions. The focus on advanced engineering and manufacturing is an excellent fit with my background.

“LEPs are an increasingly important tool in the quest for regional and national growth and it is clear that the Coventry and Warwickshire LEP has made great advances under Sir Peter.

“Winning the City Deal was a key achievement and there is clearly a great opportunity in driving forward advanced manufacturing across different sectors.

“A great deal of solid foundation work has been achieved in the last two years, and now this period of implementation will be key. I am looking forward to the challenge.”

Rigby said: “We feel we have made massive strides in improving the impact and effectiveness of the LEP on every level, and that has been reflected in our successes.

“However the next two years will be vital in implementing the measures we have put in place to ensure that we continue to drive growth.

“Jonathan has experience at a local, national and global level and has all the attributes we were looking for to lead the LEP for the next couple of years.

“We feel he is the ideal choice and we are looking forward to him coming on board at what is a very exciting time for Coventry and Warwickshire.”