Johnson to step down from Marketing Manchester
Marketing Manchester is to begin the recruitment process for a new chairman, following the completion of the seven-year tenure of existing chairman, Nick Johnson.
The former deputy chief executive of Urban Splash will hand over responsibility for the chairmanship in the summer, having served two terms plus an extra year following a review of the wider Manchester family of agencies.
Andrew Stokes, chief executive of Marketing Manchester, said: "Nick has served as chairman during an incredible period in the company's history. His passion for the city and the wider region and his insight into what makes a destination what it is has been inspirational.
"In particular, his influence can be felt in the digital strategy developed for the promotion of the city, which focused on projecting the genuine voice of Manchester – of and for the people as well as designed to entice and inform visitors. The resulting site set a new standard for traditional tourist board websites that the rest of the industry is now playing catch up to. He really will be a tough act to follow."
The chairman of Marketing Manchester leads the Strategic Board for the Centre of Excellence for Marketing, Communications and Tourism, one of three centres of excellence working closely with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.
As such, the holder of this position also attends the monthly board meeting of the Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership.
The process to recruit a replacement will be led by Manchester Airport's parent company Manchester Airports Group, one of the primary funders of the organisation, and the appointment will be made by an independent panel.
