Boris Johnson aide to head up Marketing Leeds

Lurene Joseph joins Marketing Leeds from the LDA, where she is the chief executive. In recent years, she has worked closely with the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, the Greater London Authority, London’s business leaders and local authorities. She will take charge of an expanded Marketing Leeds, bringing together a wide range of functions and services previously provided by Locate in Leeds, Visit Leeds, Conference Leeds and Marketing Leeds itself.

Before joining the LDA, Ms Joseph was responsible for brand and communications across the European arm of the oil giant Shell. She has also held a vice president position at American electricity corporation TXU. She started her career as a research associate in financial services and marketing at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology.

Ms Joseph is a board member of several organisations, including the Mayor of London’s £100m Green Fund, the investment body SME Wholesale Finance and the Royal Docks Management Authority. She has previously sat on the Boards of Crisis, a national homeless charity and Women Pioneer Housing Association.

Jean Dent, the director of Marketing Leeds, will continue acting as chief executive until Ms Joseph takes up her new post in April 2012.

Ms Joseph said: “I am delighted to be offered the post of chief executive of the new Marketing Leeds. The city is moving forward with a great ambition and there is huge potential here for investment and growth. I am excited by the challenge of spearheading the drive for Leeds to achieve its vision to attract global interest and investments. I look forward to leading the new organisation and with its new wider integrated remit, Marketing Leeds is poised to help drive forward economic growth in the city.”

Andy Clarke, the chairman of Marketing Leeds and chief executive of ASDA, said: “I’m delighted that Lurene is joining Marketing Leeds to lead it through an important phase as it becomes a broader body for attracting new jobs, investment and visitors to our city. With a proven track record of delivery in large organisations within both the public and private sector, I’m sure she will bring a wealth of new ideas and highly relevant experience to this important role, and be a fantastic ambassador for the city.”

Coun Keith Wakefield, the Leader of Leeds City Council, said: “It is a great coup for us to have on board someone with Lurene’s vast experience, both in development and in driving forward ambitious plans. She is the ideal person to have at the helm of the city’s inward investment strategy as we pursue our aim of being the best city in the UK. Leeds has bold, confident ambitions to boost its economy, job opportunities and the city itself and this is another step in helping us on the path to achieving them