Wolverhampton Development Company has appointed two new members to its board of directors. Following the formation of the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), Paul Spooner joins, and representing Advantage West Midlands, Karen Yeomans also takes a place on the board.
Paul is HCA’s Regional Director for the West Midlands, which invests nearly £200m each year in major housing and regeneration schemes and the provision of new affordable homes across the region. Paul previously worked for English Partnerships being responsible for investment in King’s Waterfront Liverpool, East Manchester and housing renewal pathfinders. He has also held positions at Birmingham and Portsmouth City Council’s focussing on major regeneration projects.
A chartered surveyor by profession, Karen joined Advantage West Midlands in 2001 as Corporate Director Operations. Previously Karen worked within the NHS on Private Finance Initiatives and commercial development schemes in the UK and overseas.
Karen and Paul will join the board, which oversees the strategic direction of the City’s on-going development, in January 2009.
The WDC Board comprises:
Graham Mackenzie, Chairman, Wolverhampton Development Company
Councillor Neville Patten, Leader, Wolverhampton City Council
Councillor Paddy Bradley, Wolverhampton City Council
Karen Yeomans, Corporate Director Operations, Advantage West Midlands
Mark Foley, Partnership Director, Advantage West Midlands
Paul Spooner, Regional Director, West Midlands, Homes and Communities Agency
Simon Eastwood, Managing Director, Carillion Developments
Prof Caroline Gipps, Vice Chancellor, University of Wolverhampton
Harmesh Mal, Chairman, ABCD New Deal for Communities
Gavin Southall, Senior Partner, FBC Manby Bowdler
Nigel Stockton, Managing Director, HBOS Intermediaries
Richard Carr, (Company Secretary), Chief Executive, Wolverhampton City Council