Regional business leader appointed to key devolution role

A top regional lawyer has been appointed to the shadow board steering the creation of the new East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA), ahead of the very first election for East Midlands Mayor in May.

David Williams, Chairman of Geldards, one of the UK’s leading law firms, will take on the role of interim business representative on the EMCCA shadow board, joining local politicians from the four key councils involved in the East Midlands devolution deal.

David said: “I’ve lived and worked in the East Midlands for over thirty years and I’m committed to doing what I can to raise the profile and economic prosperity of the region, developing the many successful partnerships between the private, public and third sectors. I’m looking forward to working with political leaders and other partners to maximise the opportunities that devolution will bring to the region.”

Councillor Barry Lewis, Leader of Derbyshire County Council, said: “David will be a tremendous asset to the shadow board and his appointment is another important step forward as we press ahead towards the creation of the new East Midlands Combined County Authority.

“David brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the role and we look forward to working with him during this key period for East Midlands devolution.”

Councillor Ben Bradley MP, Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council said: “It is vital that we have the very best expertise to help lay the foundations for the County Combined Authority.

“David’s experience and knowledge will ensure that we can maximise on the opportunities to attract investment into the region and ultimately give the people of the East Midlands the best possible outcomes in all aspects of their lives.”

Councillor David Mellen, Leader of Nottingham City Council, said: “It’s an exciting time as we move forward with the East Midlands Combined County Authority and it’s important that we have people with the expertise and knowledge to deliver this.

“David is a great asset to the new the shadow board and will be a key business representative for the region. He joins a strong team already working to deliver the best of the devolution deal for Nottingham and the region.”

Councillor Baggy Shanker, Leader of Derby City Council, said: “Our region is home to world-class industry and leading businesses, from major multinationals to fantastic small and medium-sized enterprises.

“I’m therefore delighted to have David as part of our shadow board – I have known David for many years and he has made excellent contributions to our region. He will play a crucial role to champion the business sector and bring in more investment and high-quality jobs to our local economy.”

Alongside his role as Chairman of Geldards, a top 100 law company with more than 300 employees, David holds a number of non-executive and trustee positions, including Chairman of EMB Group Limited, Deputy Chair of D2N2 LEP, Board member at Nottingham Trent University and a non-executive Director of East Midlands Chamber of Commerce.

EMCCA is set to bring in around £4 billion of funding for the region, alongside devolved powers for transport, skills and adult education, housing, the environment and economic development.