EEDA - East of England Development Agency

New regional leader needed to steer the East of England to economic upturn

9 June 2009

An exciting opportunity awaits one regional business leader, as the recruitment drive to find the next chair of the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) gets underway on 14 June.

Prospective candidates will need to have high-level skills in business, leadership and advocacy.  With a passion to improve the economy of the second largest region in the UK, the new chair should live or work in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Essex, Norfolk or Suffolk. The closing date for applications is 13 July.

The vacancy has arisen following the announcement that Richard Ellis, who has been EEDA’s chair since 2003, is standing down early next year because of work and family commitments.

Two board members, Karen Livingstone, who has the trade union portfolio, and Professor Tim Wilson, who represents the education sector, are coming to the end of their terms of office in December. Recruitment for their replacements started yesterday, 7 June, with a closing date of 3 July.

EEDA chief executive Deborah Cadman said:

“These posts are unique opportunities to play an important and essential role in the strategic economic development of the East of England and the UK as a whole. We all need to prepare for the economic upturn by ensuring we have innovative businesses, a skilled workforce and thriving communities so our towns and cities can compete successfully in the global marketplace.

“Like Richard, the new chair of EEDA will need to have extremely strong business and leadership credentials and a real commitment and passion for the region.”

Richard encouraged business people to seriously consider applying for the post of chair.

He said:

“Being chair involves a significant commitment and the role is both challenging and very rewarding. The six years I have been chair of EEDA have been a huge personal development experience for me and I continue to thoroughly enjoy meeting dedicated and committed people who work to improve the economy of the region.”

“As EEDA’s chair I have been given the opportunity to influence the government’s decision-making process, with EEDA acting as a lynch-pin between national policy and local implementation. This opportunity is open to very few people and I encourage experienced and influential business people who live or work in the region to consider applying.”

For more information about the three roles, which are all part-time, go to www.eeda.org.uk.