Board of Directors
Torbay Development Agency Ltd is a stand-alone company limited by guarantee that oversees the work of this public private partnership. It comprises 8 independently selected private sector representatives, 4 members of Torbay Council and representatives of key stakeholders; South West of England Regional Development Agency, Government Office South West, the Torbay Care Trust and South Devon College.
The board hold regular meetings and are responsible for shaping the objectives and strategic direction of the Agency's work. Resource management of the Agency's executive functions rests with Torbay Council.
Board Members:
Les Burnett, Chairman
Les has been a partner in Francis Clark, Chartered Accountants since 1983. He has built a strong reputation in the region for the delivery of high quality tax, strategic and financial advice to a wide range of corporate and non corporate clients and was appointed Managing Partner in 1999. His extensive experience enables him to provide invaluable advice to businesses on how to improve overall profitability, minimise taxation liabilities and achieve their long term business objectives. Francis Clark are the largest independent firm of Chartered Accountants in the South West with over 220 staff and partners. Les is also a member of the South West Council of the CBI.
Steve Rumford, Vice Chairman
Steve is responsible for leading Astra Zeneca's Brixham Environmental Laboratory. This is a multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers charged by Astra Zeneca with providing worldwide environmental registration of its medicines, support to its manufacturing sites and environmental advice to the business. The Laboratory also serves external customers who are mainly in the Bioscience and Chemical Industries worldwide and serves as a flagship business in Torbay, with an excellent reputation in the local community. Steve has over nineteen years experience in environmental issues and has been involved in technical studies, risk assessment and risk management projects, audits, and developing internal company guidance. Most of Steve's time is now spent managing people and processes. Just occasionally he manages to work on technical issues.
Councillor Chris Lewis
Chris is a Member of Torbay Council and was appointed a member of the Mayor’s Cabinet with responsibility for Economic Regeneration, Strategic Planning and Transport. Before moving to Torbay Chris lived in London where for over twenty years he ran his own Travel and Tourism company. The company arranged the travel for a number of large organisations and also ran international conferences. Chris was also a Director of a company focussing on Employee Cost Management for leading UK corporations and also stood for Parliament at the 1983 General Election. In 2000 Chris moved to Torbay and bought a complex of Holiday Cottages before joining the Council in 2007
Peter Colclough
Peter is Chief Executive of Torbay Care Trust, having led the merger of Adult Social Services and Torbay PCT since July 2004. Torbay Care Trust is the first integrated Health and Social Care organisation in the South West. He was formerly Chief Executive of South and West Devon Health Authority. He joined the Authority in February 1995 from Gloucestershire Health where he had been Chief Executive.
Barry Cole
Barry joined the Board of the Riviera International Conference Centre in 1996 when it was under management contract with Gardner Merchant. In January 1997 the Board decided to take back management under direct control, since when he has been MD and General Manager. Barry's background is the hotel industry having been trained in Lausanne, worked in Switzerland, Austria, and France and in London. He has run his own business (two hotels and a pub) in Wales until he moved to Torquay where he successfully completed the development of the Osborne Hotel. He is a Master Innholder (of which he was Chairman) and through which he has the Freedom of The City of London. Barry is passionate about training within his business, encouraging the development of individuals and supporting their progress whether through internal promotion or encouraging them to make rewarding career moves.
Simon Tonge
Simon is Executive Director of South West Environmental Parks Ltd which owns Paignton Zoo and Living Coasts in Torbay and Newquay Zoo in Cornwall. He is also Director of the Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust which owns nature reserves in Torbay and the South Hams and has extensive field conservation interests in Africa. Simon has worked in zoos and environmental conservation since 1980, apart from a two-year stint training as an accountant which left him sadder but much wiser.
Heather Maxwell
Heather is Principal of South Devon College and has led the college through a period of major investment and its relocation from Torquay to a new state-of-the-art site at Vantage Point in Paignton. The college is the leading training provider in the area with a growing reputation for excellence in tourism and customer care training for higher and further education as well as professional training for the business community in South Devon.
Vince Flower
Vince is a Director of WA Shearings, Europe's largest coach holiday company, operating a fleet of 363 holiday coaches. In addition to its coach holiday operations WA Shearings also operates 43 holiday hotels in the UK. The division Vince is involved in currently employs over 1400 staff in the UK and it has an annual turnover in excess of £60 million.
Hilary Mabbutt
Prior to moving to Torbay, Hilary has held a number of senior appointments in blue chip companies in retail marketing working for companies such as IKEA UK, Dixons Stores Group and Bentalls PLC and immediately prior to moving to Torquay Hilary worked as a retail marketing consultant advising companies such as Independent Newspaper Group and Virgin. Hilary and her husband bought the 'Dartmoor Maiden' and transformed it into the English House Restaurant with rooms - a 50 cover Award Winning restaurant just on the edge of Torquay in the hamlet of Maidencombe.
Simon Wilson
Simon is a Partner in leading South Devon Law Firm, Kitson Hutchings Solicitors and is based in the firm's Commercial Property Department at Torquay, specialising in all aspects of business transfer and commercial property, particularly in the hotel and leisure business, with an interest in Planning and Environmental matters. Simon was previously a Partner in his own firm in the South East handling many aspects of property work in part arising from the urban regeneration in London Docklands and the Thames Corridor. Simon is a member of the United Kingdom Environmental Lawyers Association.
Nick Powe
Nick runs his own business in Torbay, Kents Cavern a leading visitor attraction and has managed the business through a major investment program spending £800,000 modernising visitor facilities. The business is beginning to play a big part in the local community and has excellent links with the wider business community. Nick's family have run the attraction for five generations since 1880. Prior to taking on the management of the family business Nick enjoyed a career as a qualified chartered accountant with an international business background.
TDA News
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news
Mayor's Vision Roadshows 23 – 24 June – everyone welcome
Torbay Development Agency and Torbay Council are holding a se . . .
Draft Employers Guide now available
Too many employers and businesses fail to develop and invest . . .
Unique development opportunity in the New English Riviera
Torbay Development Agency (TDA), working on behalf of Torbay Council, is looking for a private sector partner to deliver a major regeneration programme in one of Europe's finest marine environments: The New English Riviera.
projects
Sea Change - Cockington Court
The Cockington Court project will create an inspirational new . . .
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