Welcome to Yorkshire commercial director leaves in further break with Verity era

Welcome to Yorkshire said today that Mr Dodd had taken the decision to leave the organisation with effect from next Tuesday, June 2.

Mr Dodd had been a key part of the tourism agency under the organisation's original chief executive Sir Gary Verity, following it replacing the former Yorkshire Tourist Board in 2009.

Their successes with the agency, which is a private company but receives millions in public funding each year, included bringing the Tour de France Grand Départ to Yorkshire in 2014.

But following the resignation of Sir Gary in March 2019 amidst allegations surrounding expenses spending and bullying of staff, there have been a raft of changes at the top of the organisation as it struggled both with its finances and to restore its reputation.

Chairman Ron McMillan resigned in April 2019 and the firm is now led by new chief executive James Mason and chairman Peter Box, the former leader of Wakefield Council. There have also been multiple changes to the firm's board over the past year.

In a statement today, Mr Dodd said: "It’s been an absolute privilege to be a part of the Welcome to Yorkshire team for the last 11 years.

"I am incredibly proud of everything we have achieved, together with our partners, to raise Yorkshire’s profile to ‘world-class’ status. The memories I have of iconic events such as the Grand Depart of Tour de France, the five Tour de Yorkshires, the RHS Chelsea Flower Shows and the UCI Road World Championships will stay with me forever.

"I am honoured to have worked alongside some of the most talented, dedicated and passionate individuals and I wish the team the very best for the future. I am now looking forward to the next adventure in life with my family."

A statement from Welcome to Yorkshire said: "Peter contributed a huge amount to Welcome to Yorkshire over the years with many highlights, including of course, being an instrumental part of the team who brought the Tour de France Grand Départ to Yorkshire in 2014.

"Welcome to Yorkshire has experienced a significant journey over the last decade and Peter has built a valuable network of people who continue to want to work with us as we approach a new dawn.

"Everyone connected with the organisation would like to wish Peter and his family the very best of health and success going forward."

Following Sir Gary's resignation on health grounds in March 2019, subsequent independent inquiries determining his behaviour towards staff had “fallen short” of expected standards after bullying allegations were made, while it was found he had claimed around £26,000 in ‘personal’ expenses “not incurred wholly for the benefit of Welcome to Yorkshire”.

Investigators were unable to determine whether a further £900,000 of expense claims by Sir Gary and other senior officials had been “reasonable” because of a lack of clear spending policies.

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