No decision on Leeds’ ambassador

The panel has been trying to appoint a chief executive for the new Marketing Leeds organisation, which will have responsibility for marketing, investment and tourism.

It will replace the existing Marketing Leeds and other publicly funded services such as Financial Leeds, Locate in Leeds, Visit Leeds, Leeds Visitor Centre and Conference Leeds.

It is thought that a few dozen people had applied for the job, which has a salary of £100,000.

These include people with backgrounds in inward investment roles in Leeds and other cities plus individuals from the private sector.

Interviews took place last month with the panel hoping to select a winner by the end of April. The failure to make an appointment might persuade the council to increase the salary on offer.

A Leeds City Council spokeswoman said: “We are still in the process of progressing the appointment of the chief executive of the new Marketing Leeds.

“After having interviewed a number of candidates, the recruitment panel have indicated a need for more time to conclude their deliberations, therefore we are not yet in a position to make an announcement. 

“We can confirm that both the current chief executives of Marketing Leeds and Financial Leeds remain in the process, along with others.”