Urbis boss moves to Cityco

Cityco, the council’s city centre management company, has appointed Vaughan Allen, currently chief executive of Urbis, as its new chief executive.

Allen, 42, replaces acting chief executive Kate Harrison, who is set to join Bruntwood as marketing director. Former journalist Allen joined Urbis in 2005 from the Royal Armouries in Leeds.

Rowena Burns, Cityco’s chairman, said: “Vaughan has done a fantastic job repositioning Urbis and it’s great to have someone who shares our passion for the city as part of the team. In a competitive marketplace and within a challenging economic climate we need someone at the helm who is really delivery-focused, and can make a difference to the look and feel of the city centre, getting the basics right, and championing all that Manchester has to offer. Vaughan understands our vision.”

Allen commented: “I’m really excited about the new role and I’m very committed to making a positive difference to Manchester. Cityco represents the full range of stakeholders who do business in this great city, and has a crucial role in delivering its strategy. We are a leading European city, and one of the premier retail and commercial centres in the UK. Manchester is an incredible place and I’m really looking forward to working in partnership with both public and private sector bodies to create new opportunities that will continue the momentum of change which will allow our businesses to prosper.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed the past four years at Urbis, and am grateful for the enthusiasm and hard-work shown by my staff over that period. I am leaving at an incredibly exciting time, with the prospect of the National Football Museum coming to the building over the next two years. I leave a team ready and able to make the NFM one of the leading attractions in the city; full of energy, excitement and life. I wish them every success in their work.”