Black Country LEP beefs up its board

FOUR new private sector members have been added to the board of the Black Country Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

Vicki Wilkes, Simon Eastwood, Ninder Johal and Dr Chris Handy have been added to give the business body a wider knowledge base.

It also helps to compensate for the loss of East End Foods’ Jason Wouhra who recently announced he was stepping down as deputy chairman of the LEP to focus on his business.

Wilkes is managing director of Brierley Hill-based Phoenix Calibration and Services. At the LEP she will be the new support on employment, education and skills to Professor Ian Oakes of Wolverhampton University.

Eastwood is managing director at Wolverhampton-based support services giant Carillion. He has taken on John McDonough’s role as private sector lead on planning for the LEP. McDonough retired as managing director at Carillion and from his position on the LEP board last year.

Johal is managing director at Wednesbury-based live event production agency Nachural Corporate Communications. He becomes the LEP’s new private sector lead for perception and communications.

Meanwhile Dr Chris Handy OBE, group chief executive from housing organisation Accord Group, situated in West Bromwich, has taken on the new role of social enterprise lead for the LEP.

Stewart Towe, chair of the Black Country LEP, said: “With the recent additions we have made to the board I have no doubt the Black Country LEP is stronger than ever.

“They all bring something new to the table and I am sure their efforts will help increase the support we offer to local enterprises further.”