The York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership has appointed Helen Simpson as the chair of its board.
Ms Simpson is an experienced non-executive chair and director and will replaced David Kerfoot, whose term of office comes to an end next March.
The pair will work together for five months during a transition period, designed to provide a stable transition in leadership.
Speaking of her appointment, Helen Simpson said: “I am excited to get involved with the York & North Yorkshire LEP and look forward to meeting the LEP team, partners and businesses across the region as we work together to build the economy.
"We live in challenging times, so now more than ever, it will be a privilege to champion York and North Yorkshire. I am looking forward to using my skills and experience, with the LEP team, the board and the public and private sector partners to help make a real difference.”
Before taking on a number of non-executive roles, Ms Simpson worked as a senior executive at BT where she led digital growth businesses, headed up major deals, worked in strategy developing roles, and led BT's global volunteering programme.
She currently chairs Broadacres Housing Association, which provides social hosing across North Yorkshire, as well as Trustees Unlimited, which improves the governance of charities. She also serves as a Trustee with St Martin-in-the-Fields Charity in its work with the homeless and vulnerably housed.
Speaking at the conference, Mr Kerfoot said: “Helen’s experience and credentials are exactly what is needed for the role. She is passionate about York and North Yorkshire, is a proven leader and has in-depth experience of working with government at the highest level.
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"I am looking forward to working with her over the next few months and I have no doubt that she is an excellent choice to lead the LEP’s vision to build a greener, fairer and stronger economy for the region as we emerge from the pandemic.”
The York & North Yorkshire LEP is a business-led partnership between the public sector and private companies and is designed to drive economic growth across the region.
Since 2014, the LEP has invested a total of £220.8m to support business, infrastructure, and skills across York and North Yorkshire including housing, transport, flood alleviation, social inclusion and workforce development.
The LEP has ambitions to build a greener, fairer and stronger economy across the region and has set a target to become England's first carbon negative region.
In her new role, Ms Simpson will work with partners to make this green target a reality. She will also work towards completing negotiations with the Government to grant the region devolved powers. The LEP hopes devolved powers would give the area more powers to drive investment and recover across Yorkshire, and improve its recovery after the Covid-19 pandemic.