Cumbria Vision boss steps down after reshuffle

Richard Greenwood, chief executive of regeneration agency Cumbria Vision, is leaving his post, the organisation said today.

Greenwood spent three years running Cumbria Vision, the sub-regional delivery body of the North West Development Agency in the county.

Cumbria Vision said in a statement Greenwood’s departure “marks the successful completion of a radical reorganisation of economic delivery in Cumbria.”

Last year, the NWDA and Cumbria County Council reorganised regeneration quangos in to four delivery boards: Barrow Regeneration; Britain’s Energy Coast West Cumbria (formerly West Cumbria Vision); Carlisle Renaissance and Eden & South Lakeland. Each of these boards has its own chairman and programme director.

Greenwood said: “I am very proud to have been part of a team that has helped to clarify Cumbria’s priorities and overcome some of the obstacles which prevented or delayed effective delivery of important projects. Regional and national bodies now see Cumbria as a much more focussed county with very strong partnership qualities and an open for business attitude.

“I have worked hard to help form these working partnerships and Cumbria has a very exciting economic future centered mainly, but not exclusively, around energy and tourism. I have met so many people and greatly value the support and friendship I have received. I look forward to watching the results grow in the future and will continue to explore the fells even if I have to move away in the future. I leave with a degree of inevitable sadness and at the same time excitement about my own future. My best wishes go out to everyone in Cumbria.”

Roger Liddle, chairman of Cumbria Vision, said: “Richard is leaving by mutual consent with a job very well done. His drive and determination has been of great benefit to Cumbria and the entire Cumbria Vision board wishes him well for the future. He still has much to contribute.

“The way forward for Cumbria is now clear thanks to his and the Cumbria Vision team’s work. With the economic strategy and action plan now in place, and the entire county signed up to its approach, the focus must shift from strategy to delivery. We need to ensure the businesses and communities we serve not only see but feel the benefits of investment taking place across the county.”

Steven Broomhead, chief executive of the NWDA, said: “I would like to extend my thanks to Richard for his hard work and commitment to Cumbria over the last three years. Now is the right time for the four new boards, together with local authorities, to build on the progress Cumbria Vision has made under Richard’s guidance.”

A decision will be taken in the coming months about whether Cumbria Vision needs another chief executive going forward.