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Heart of the South West Chief Executive Retiring in July

Today at the Heart of the South West (HotSW) Local Enterprise Partnership Board meeting, it was announced that Chief Executive, Chris Garcia, is taking up his statutory retirement this summer, therefore the LEP has started the recruitment process for his replacement.

Chris has been the chief executive of the HotSW LEP – one of the largest in the country – for five years. During this time, from a zero baseline budget, the LEP has generated an investment programme of nearly three-quarters of a billion pounds, funding over 60 infrastructure, skills and business support projects.

Steve Hindley CBE DL, Chair of the Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “I wish Chris all the best for his retirement after years of excellent progress in build effective Partnerships to build us into a very effective Local Enterprise Partnership.

“Chris’s tenacity and expertise have helped HotSW become one of England’s most successful LEPs; both in terms of attracting investment from government and securing strategic backing from stakeholders and business.

“As we approach the next phase towards improving productivity and prosperity for all, we look forward to attracting the highest calibre of candidates in the recruitment process for a new chief executive, who will bring their creativity and leadership to the role.”

ENDS

Media enquiries: helena.davison@heartofswlep.co.uk 07525806333. Steve Hindley is available for interviews.

 

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      David Ralph

      Chief Executive

      David Ralph started as Chief Executive of Heart of South West LEP at the beginning of June 2018. Previously, he had spent 5 years as CEO of the Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham, Nottinghamshire (D2N2) LEP from 2013 where he oversaw the development of the D2N2 Strategic Economic Plan and sector strategies, 3 Growth Deals with HM Government to deliver a £1billion capital investment programme, securing and implementing £200m ESIF programme, the Derby and Nottingham Enterprise Zone, the D2N2 Skills Deal and Time for Innovation programme, community fund and led the executive team to develop the HS2 East Midlands hub. He was also closely involved in the proposed North Midlands Devolution Deal and one of the key architects in establishing the Midlands Engine, chairing the officer steering group. Whilst in this role David was a NED of the Nottingham Enterprise Zone, and Marketing NG, the Outer Estates Foundation and a Governor of Nottingham College and on the advisory Board of Nottingham Business School.

      Before the East Midlands, David was CEO of the Have Gateway Partnership working closely with local stakeholders including the ports of Felixstowe, Harwich and Ipswich and BT Adadastral Park across Suffolk and Essex and prior to that was Chief Exec of the Barton Hill New Deal for Communities programme in Bristol and the Nelm Development Trust in Norwich.

      David is a keen sailor, walker and trail runner.