Investment officer named for GMCA

The Greater Manchester Combined Authority has appointed a chief investment officer, former KPMG senior partner Bill Enevoldson, to help oversee its investment strategy for the region.

Enevoldson, a senior advisor to Sir Howard Bernstein for many years, has advised the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities and Combined Authority on a wide range of projects and transactions including the Manchester Airport Group's acquisition of Stansted Airport.

The chief investment officer will be responsible for leading the Greater Manchester core investment team to drive forward the Greater Manchester Investment Strategy, which has been developed by the GMCA and Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership. Enevoldson will assess the viability and value of projects and support the region's 10 local authorities in bringing forward a pipeline of projects.

The GMCA has also appointed a new investment director of low carbon to oversee investments in the low carbon sector, Julian Packer. Packer is currently an executive director at Cogenco and has worked within Greater Manchester on low carbon and environmental projects for a number of years.

Cllr Kieran Quinn, executive leader of Tameside Council and GMCA's portfolio holder for investment, said: "This is a vital role at a crucial time and it's great that an experienced professional of Bill's calibre will be filling it. It is essential that we ensure the right investment reaches the right businesses which will create jobs and help drive forward the economic growth of the region."

Enevoldson said: "With businesses in Greater Manchester struggling to access funding from traditional lenders, it is more important than ever that we can support them to access the finance they need to support the region's economy. I am very much looking forward to playing an integral role in this process."