Mr Hamid was formally chosen for the three-year role at the economic development agency by the LEP board last week following an extensive and open recruitment process. Tony McDonough reports

Merseyside call centre entrepreneur Asif Hamid is the new chair of the Liverpool City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

The chief executive of Birkenhead-based The Contact Company has been interim chair of the economic development agency since previous chair, Robert Hough, stood down last year.

Mr Hamid was formally chosen for the three-year role by the LEP board last week following an extensive and open recruitment process. 

He said “I am both honoured and delighted to have been chosen to take on this important role at a hugely exciting time for the city region.

“I am deeply committed to the inclusive growth of our city region and firmly believe that the LEP has a vital role to play in enabling business, the public sector and the whole community to work in partnership to realise the incredible potential of this place we live and work in.

“The LEP has, in the last five years, done a fantastic job in mobilising the businesses in our key growth sectors and the wider community to identify and realise the city region’s growth potential working alongside our partners in local and central government.

“As we enter a new phase of governance for the city region, the LEP is committed to supporting the Combined Authority and Metro Mayor in the successful implementation of the Devolution deal agreed with Government to accelerate our economic growth.”