The Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) was set up following the abolition of Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) by the coalition government and is private sector led.
At the meeting, CEO of Southwold based Adnams, Andy Wood was elected to the position of Chairman of New Anglia.
“I am delighted and honoured to take on this vital role.” said Mr Wood who is also Chair of the Better Broadband for Suffolk campaign and recently visited Washington DC with a UK Government delegation. “There has been a great deal of hard work in a short amount of time to bring together New Anglia. In that time we have produced a Business Plan, a set of priorities and an effective communications network keeping the business community in our two counties fully informed of our work.”
“From today that work continues.” he added. “We are fortunate to have members of our Board with a high calibre and a track record of success. It was our first Board Meeting but I am already impressed and encouraged with the appetite my colleagues are showing to get down to business.”
Andy is joined on the Board by 5 other business leaders, David Gledhill, Chief Executive of Hutchison Ports, Erika Clegg the Managing Director of Spring, Mark Goodall, Area Manager, Aker Solutions, David Marsh who has over 30 years experience in business founding a range of successful start-ups and SMEs and Mark Jeffries, Senior Partner of Mills & Reeve.
The full board of 12 also includes leading public sector figures, Derrick Murphy, Leader of Norfolk County Council, Mark Bee, Leader of Suffolk County Council, David Ellesmere, Leader of Ipswich Borough Council and Alan Wates, Cabinet Member of Norwich City Council. The names of the two final Board Members representing Higher Education or Further Education and rural districts will be determined in the next few days.
“New Anglia must be about improving the economic environment for Norfolk and Suffolk.” Andy continued. “We are home to some of the most exciting, imaginative and hard working businesses in the UK. We want to bring more jobs to secure the future of New Anglia and its people." |
