THE CHAIR of a Coventry and Warwickshire development board is stepping down in April.
Jonathan Browning has led the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership since 2014.
He joined the CWLEP after three years as President and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America.
The so-called ‘LEPs’ were set up across the country under the 2010 coalition government’s ‘localism’ agenda – supposedly to devolve more decision-making to local communities.
Partnerships between private businesses and councils, they replaced the abolished regional development agencies in being slimmed-down vehicles to stimulate growth locally, competing for government and other grants.
Much of their potential remit was superceded with a new regional agenda by 2015 and the creation of regional mayors and combined authorities.
Mr Browning said: “When I returned to Warwickshire and joined the CWLEP in 2014, my impression was that the area had many strengths but there wasn’t a joined-up approach and that was holding us back from realising our potential.
“That is no longer the case as there is much greater collaboration between the private and public sector which has led to tangible success which is moving Coventry and Warwickshire’s economy forward.
“A perfect example is the partnership working between the CWLEP, Coventry City Council and WMG at the University of Warwick which led to the area winning a competition to build the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre which will open near Coventry next spring.
“The CWLEP has also made great strides over the last six years as we have been identified as one of the top three LEPs in the country and we have now attracted more than £330 million of funding to Coventry and Warwickshire.”
Mr Browning is a former chairman of British Cycling and he is on the committee of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022.
Prof Sir Ralf Speth, Jaguar Land Rover Chief Executive, said: “We have worked very closely with the CWLEP over recent years and appreciate its work supporting Jaguar Land Rover’s activities in Coventry and Warwickshire. The LEP has been a driving force in the local and regional economy, ensuring that this area punches above its weight at national and international level.
“Jonathan Browning perfectly understands the industrial and commercial mix of this area and his background at a high level in the global automotive industry has been invaluable. He has been a real champion for growth, with very tangible results, particularly in the important field of R&D and engineering.”
Councillor George Duggins, leader of Coventry City Council, said: “Jonathan’s work with the CWLEP and the bonds he helped build with the City Council and other partners, has played a key role in helping to unlock the great potential of Coventry and Warwickshire.”
