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Plymouth City Development Company names new Senior Management Team

13 August 2009

Three highly experienced professionals have been appointed to lead Plymouth City Development Company (PCDC), it was announced today.

Gavin Carrier takes over as PCDC Chief Executive, with Matthew Cross joining as Director of Inward Investment & Marketing and Stephen Hulance as Director of Development.

Together the new Senior Management Team will have responsibility for working with the PCDC Board to take PCDC to its next stage of development and firmly establish it as the key organisation leading economic growth and physical regeneration in Plymouth.

New Chief Executive Gavin Carrier will take up his position with effect from September 1 and brings with him extensive experience and an excellent track record in senior management and in delivering urban regeneration and development, including the $700million, multi-award-winning Walsh Bay Urban Regeneration scheme in Sydney Harbour, Australia.

He will be joined by: Matthew Cross - who currently leads the marketing and inward investment activities in New York and the East Coast of the US for Think London, the foreign direct investment agency for London; and Stephen Hulance, a development and property professional with 28 years experience in successfully leading national regeneration, development and construction projects in both the private and public sectors.

James Brent, PCDC Chairman, said: "Today's announcement fulfils a commitment we made to the Plymouth community at the start of this recruitment process to have a full 'best in class' senior management team in place and ready to start work in the autumn.

"The Board is very pleased to have secured three individuals of the highest quality who bring with them the combined skills required and excellent records for delivery. We are confident that together, and with the support of the PCDC board and Plymouth's community, they will make a formidable team to drive forward PCDC's and Plymouth's ambitions for improvement and growth."

Gavin Carrier said: "There is a unique opportunity, in these uncertain economic times, to create a very solid base for future growth and development within Plymouth. The new team at the PCDC is eager to take up this challenge, with the support of local organisations, government and the people of Plymouth. There is a determination to build on the city's proud history and help to develop it as one of the UK's leading cities and a destination of choice for living, working, recreation and investment."

Leader of Plymouth City Council, Councillor Vivien Pengelly said: "The members of this team have an extraordinary track record of for delivering great projects in big cities and we look forward to them delivering our vision for the city."

Barry Keel, Chief Executive of Plymouth City Council said: "We are very pleased that our colleagues in the CDC are now in place. We look forward to working alongside them and blending the benefits of private and public sector skills."

Ian Thompson, Devon Area Director for the South West RDA, said: "It's great to have the new team in place. There is a lot of important work to do in Plymouth and we look forward to the new PCDC executive working with the three founding partners to deliver the economic development programme for the city."

Mike Leece, Chairman of the Plymouth Chamber of Commerce said: "The Chamber of Commerce welcomes the announcement of the PCDC's top team and looks forward to working with them and the PCDC board to create a work plan that will lead the delivery of the Local Economic Strategy (LES)."

Ends

Notes to editors

The Plymouth City Development Company (PCDC)

The Plymouth City Development Company (PCDC) was launched in February 2008 to drive the city's ambitious plans for economic growth and regeneration.

The company is one of the first of its type in the UK and is a partnership between the private sector, Plymouth City Council, the South West RDA and the Homes and Communities Agency.

The creation of the company is one of the key components of Plymouth's Local Economic Strategy which spells out how the city will encourage the creation of 42,000 new jobs and develop the skills market to match its development programme and ambitions.

The company is developing a full programme to achieve the economic growth in the city which includes developing economic and regeneration activities and business growth, securing inward investment, leading branding and marketing initiatives, developing the city's economic infrastructure and ensuring the city creates employment opportunities for all.

Contact Details

Name: John Casey
Tel: 01208 77900
Email: john.casey@dca-pr.co.uk

Third Party Issuer

Plymouth City Development Company