FIVE new members have been appointed to the board of the organisation responsible for the direction of the Cheshire and Warrington economy.

Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has confirmed the new members. They join chairman Christine Gaskell who was appointed for another three years last month.

  • Graeme Bristow, Alderley Park site leader, AstraZeneca
  •  Gary Steen, chief technology officer, TalkTalk Plc
  •  Christopher Hindley, chief executive, Youth Federation
  •  Stephen Kinsey, solicitor and partner, Addleshaw Goddard LLP
  •  John Downes, managing director, Langtree

Existing board members, Pete Waterman and Tim Wheeler, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Chester, have also been reappointed for a further three years.

Christine Gaskell, chairman of Cheshire and Warrington LEP, said: “The role, work and influence of the LEP has grown considerably over the past six years.

“This is a really exciting time for us as we work to exploit the huge opportunities offered by the arrival of HS2 and the wealth of science assets in the Cheshire Science Corridor.

“I’m confident that our new board members will make a valuable contribution in supporting this agenda as we work to build on Cheshire and Warrington’s reputation as a great place to live, work and invest.

“I would like to thank our outgoing board members for their exceptional contribution to the LEP’s success over the last six years.”