Top Shropshire businessman to step down as head of LEP
One of Shropshire's best-known businessmen has announced he is to step down from his position at the head of the Marches Local Enterprise Partnership.
The partnership, which is aimed at revitalising the economy of Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin, and Herefordshire, will be seeking new leadership from February after Dr Geoffrey Davies announced he would not seek re-election at the end of his current term as chairman.
He will remain on the LEP's board for a further year, and will support the search for a new chairman.
"Having spent some six years now being chairman of economic regeneration forums, including the Shropshire Business Board and the LEP, I now feel it is time to take a step back at the end of my term," Dr Davies, who was born near Whitchurch and educated in New Zealand, said. "I'm delighted with the progress that the LEP has made over my term of office. It has been my pleasure to have been at the forefront of this work, supported by an excellent business-led board working in partnership with the local authorities."
He added: "I will remain on the board for a further year to ensure continuity during the search for and appointment of a new chair and to devote more time to pushing ahead with my vision to create a National Aeronautical Academy at RAF Cosford, a joint project with the LEPs of the Black Country and Staffordshire."
As part of the preparation to change leadership, the LEP board has co-opted former NFU president Sir Ben Gill CBE to the position of vice-chairman.
