After 25 years of working in Liverpool’s buzzing retail industry, Ed Oliver (pictured) has confirmed that he will be retiring as chairman of the Liverpool BID Company.
Oliver, who has been instrumental in setting up and running Liverpool’s city centre Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), is set to put more focus on his work for the boards of Alder Hey’s Ronald McDonald House, the Countess of Chester Hospital and travelling the world.
Oliver took charge of the city’s Marks & Spencer store in Church Street. He also ran Clayton Square shopping centre until 2009 and stepped down as chairman of Liverpool Chamber of Commerce in the same year.
In a ballot last June, Liverpool city centre shipowners voted to renew the term of Liverpool City Central BID for further five years.
His retirement decision was made last week following an executive board meeting.
Mr Oliver said:
“It’s no big deal. It’s time to go. I have been retired from full-time business for five years.”
Mr Oliver continued:
“Something had to go.
“The City Centre BID vote was last June. I had planned to go then but I was persuaded not to. I have now stood down as chairman and resigned from the board.”
Liverpool BID Company chief executive Bill Addy has become full-time. The Liverpool BID Company is currently shortlisting for new board members and will shortly start the search for a new chairman.”
He added:
“It’s important for it to be the right appointment. It’s important they do it and it’s not my appointment so I’m staying away.
“It’s a non-remunerated position. You do it for the love of Liverpool.
“I will miss it.
“It’s been my life for the last 25 years.”
Mr Oliver, 67, has homes in Wirral and Florida.
He added: “I will have more time for Alder Hey and Countess of Chester and my other major interest, travel.
“25 years ago when M&S said I was going to Liverpool I thought to myself ‘Oh no, not Liverpool. What have I done wrong to be sent there?’
“It was not the place then it is today. But now it’s been transformed and I would never leave the place.
“I love Liverpool.”
Source: Liverpool Echo