Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (OxLEP) announced the appointment of Jeremy Long as the new OxLEP Chair.

Jeremy Long is Chief Executive of European Business for MTR Corporation, he is succeeding Adrian Shooter who stepped down in October 2015.

OxLEP is the strategic business-led organisation focusing on county wide economic growth; Mr Long outlined his desire to use his experience to add value to the work already achieved by business, academia and local authorities under the leadership of Adrian Shooter and interim Chair, Ian Wenman.

Mr Long said ‘Oxfordshire is already a major contributor to growth and prosperity across England, through our strong partnership approach we will continue to support the growth of our economy. I am joining at an exciting time, the emerging Devolution Deal proposals, implementation of the European Structural Investment Programme and major delivery of infrastructure will need our continued support. Devolution proposals particularly the potential for this approach to allow more local control over funding,  faster delivery and the realisation of our Strategic Economic Plan objectives provides real momentum. It is a privilege to be given such an opportunity to work with the private and public sectors in my home county; I am eager to work with the OxLEP partners and the diverse range of Oxfordshire businesses to further the success of the county’s economic growth.’

Professor Alistair Fitt, Vice Chancellor of Oxford Brookes University and OxLEP board member, said ‘I am delighted with the appointment of Jeremy Long to lead us in to the next phase of development. Jeremy has spent his career leading world-class organisations in both the UK and abroad, has knowledge of the Oxfordshire economy and its needs and is well suited to drive OxLEP forward in its aims.’

Mr Long has a broad-ranging career leading and developing a wide range of businesses in customer services, IT, marketing, leisure, travel and hospitality. He is currently CEO for Europe of the Hong-Kong headquartered international railway and property group MTR Corporation. Mr Long is an experienced chair having worked extensively with both Westminster and local authorities. He has championed skills and employment initiatives, as a former Member of the Mayor of London Skills and Employment Board, former Director of London Development Agency and Chair of their Business and Skills Committee; the development of business and the skills to support their growth are at the heart of Mr Long’s motivation for joining OxLEP.

Mr Long will formally take over as Chair of the Oxfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership in early March and looks forward to working with businesses from across the county.

Please contact Beryl Manners on beryl.manners@oxfordshirelep.com or Mandy Scruby on mandy.scruby@oxfordshirelep.com with any questions.