Zissman steps down from Millennium Point Trust

LEADING Birmingham business figure and former politician Sir Bernard Zissman is to step down as chair of the city’s Millennium Point Trust after 10 years with the service to the body.

Millennium Point kick-started the regeneration of Birmingham’s Eastside district after it was awarded Landmark Millennium Project status in 1995. Sir Bernard was appointed by representatives from a consortium of public and private sector bodies to lead the team which developed the project and gained the initial £50m funding towards the £114m cost of Millennium Point.

Sir Bernard said: “It is enormously gratifying to be standing down from one of Birmingham’s most successful developments after some 17 years of association with the project.

“Millennium Point has developed enormously over the years and I leave the organisation with tremendous pride at the fact that it is now home to the largest cinema screen in the Midlands at The Giant Screen Cinema, the city’s science museum – Thinktank, Birmingham City University’s faculty of Technology, Engineering and the Environment and Birmingham Metropolitan College’s fashion and design hubs.

“I am particularly proud that the success of Millennium Point has enabled the board to provide our two main charity tenants, Thinktank and the Technology Innovation Centre with £3.2m in funding.  This funding has enabled further development of the facilities on offer as half a million pounds was awarded to create the new Science Garden and further half a million has been donated towards developing the new ‘Made in Birmingham’ gallery.”

Sir Bernard has been associated with many of Birmingham and the region’s most significant developments and projects. He led the team which successfully developed the concept for the International Convention Centre and the world acclaimed Symphony Hall which started the transformation of Broad Street and Brindleyplace, and more recently was asked to chair the judging panel to select the design and architects for the exciting New Street Station redevelopment project, now taking shape alongside the Bullring.

Philip Singleton, CEO of Millennium Point, said: “Sir Bernard leaves a substantial legacy behind him here in Eastside.  He helped to shape the very existence of Millennium Point and has led the Trust Board through some exciting and notable developments.

“I am committed to ensuring that we continue to build on the successes that Sir Bernard leaves behind with renewed vigour and ambition.”