Following an extensive external recruitment process, Mr Glenn Caplin has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer for the Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly LEP and Service Director (Economic Development and Enterprise) for Cornwall Council.

The response to our search for a new CEO and Service Director was extensive and there was a tremendous amount of interest in the role from across the private and public sectors for the role.

Glenn brings a wealth of experience to the role and has a deep understanding of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly business sector. He was most recently Director of Strategic Innovation Projects at Falmouth University where he led the university's venture portfolio work.

Prior to that Glenn was Head of Economic Development, Skills and Culture at Cornwall Council where he set the direction of the Council's Economic Development and Culture Strategy and its implementation.  He has also held a number of business and economic development roles in the Council and the Cornwall Development Company.

Chair of the LEP, Mark Duddridge said: "This role will have a strong focus on engaging and working with businesses across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, setting the strategic direction for the economic growth of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

"We are ambitious about making Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly competitive and attractive to business and inward investment, and exploiting the enormous opportunities we have around space, devolution, the launch of our financial loan scheme, the future role of LEPs and the transition from EU to UK funding. Glenn is a fantastic appointment to the role and we are delighted he is joining us."

Cornwall Council Cabinet portfolio holder for Planning and Economy, Bob Egerton, welcomed Glenn's appointment: "It is fantastic to be appointing local talent and someone who has a deep knowledge of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, backed by a  strong track record of results in economic development and growth. Glenn's knowledge of and his prior work around skills and economic growth in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly will be invaluable in bringing forward the Council's and the LEP's very extensive economic skill and innovation programme."

Glenn Caplin said he was looking forward to commencing in the role. "I am delighted to be appointed to the role. I am passionate about the potential of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly and am looking forward to the enormous opportunities this role provides to support the growth of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly business sector," he said.

"We already have some amazing businesses in sectors ranging from digital to creative to renewable energy and aerospace. These form the basis of the LEPs 10 Opportunities and my ambition will be to develop and support these even further. I am also looking forward to working with sectors such as tourism and agri-food which also play a big part in the regional economy".

Glenn will start in the role in July. 

Story posted 10 May 2018