WORCESTERSHIRE Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has announced its executive chairman will be stepping down in May after four years in the role.

Peter Pawsey was appointed in May 2011 for a period of three years, but last year agreed to extend his role into 2015.

Since then he has overseen major changes of both the main LEP Board and the Business Board.

Mr Pawsey said: “When we set out on this journey in early 2011, we had very little support and a brief from Government that was only just emerging.

“However a number of key business people from Worcestershire together with leaders of our local authorities came together to provide facilities and funding which enabled us to start making progress.

“There have been some spectacular successes across the whole of Worcestershire during the past three to four years, particularly in the creation of apprenticeship places and new jobs in general.

“Whilst the Worcestershire LEP cannot claim credit alone, it has certainly been the catalyst for bringing partners across the public, private, education and voluntary sectors together in a concerted programme of initiatives and achievement.”

“I am proud of our record in helping Worcestershire towards achieving its full potential, though it still has far to go.

“However I am convinced that this is the right time for the LEP to have new leadership, energy and direction, and it is also the right time for me to concentrate on my other personal and business interests.”

The search for a new executive chairman is underway and an announcement will be made in the near future in order to allow a period of handover.