Member Article

Paul Woolston to end tenure as North East LEP Chair

Paul Woolston, the man who has led the North East LEP since its formation, has announced that he will stand down from his position later this month.

A former senior partner at Price Waterhouse Coopers, Paul has led the LEP board as chair since the organisation was created in 2011. He will formally leave his post on January 28, when the board next meets.

Paul revealed: “The timing is right for a new chair to lead the North East LEP forward at an exciting time in its development and for the region.”

During Paul’s tenure the LEP has enjoyed a range of successes from formulating the organisation’s Strategic Economic Plan to engineer growth for the region’s long term future, to retaining vital business support funds such as JEREMIE 2.

Furthermore, job creation, collaboration and innovation have been at the heart of the LEP’s work. The body successfully bid for two Enterprise Zones, the first of which created more than 1,200 new jobs to date, whilst the second zone is anticipated to deliver a further 14,000 jobs.

More recently, the LEP created the North East Growth Hub, an online resource for business advice, funding information, networking, news and events.

“We are entering a new year with a devolution deal for the North East agreed with Government and the combined authority, which will mean a new role for the LEP.”

Further board announcements

Three further business board members will also step down as part of the LEP’s plan to stagger its board member leaving and replacement process, keeping experienced members in place to support newcomers.

Businesswoman Gill Southern stepped down from the LEP board just before Christmas, while Michael Bellamy and Arnab Basu will also leave the board as soon as replacement members are recruited.

As part of a rotation of duties, Northumbria University Vice-Chancellor Andrew Wathey and Jon Vincent, Principal and Chief Executive of TyneMet College, have both recently been appointed to the board to replace Anne Isherwood and Peter Fidler.

Paul added: “I would like to thank our business board members who have all really made a difference to what the LEP does, as well as Edward Twiddy and Helen Golightly for their executive leadership.

“Their intellect, innovation and energy means we have been able to turn a great strategy into great decision-making for the North East economy.

“Strong business representation is crucial to the long-term success of the North East LEP and I would urge businesspeople to help shape the region’s future by applying for a place on the board. I am genuinely proud of what we have achieved.”