RLPO and LFC duo to Lead The Mersey Partnership’s Tourist Board for the Liverpool City Region
Senior figures from two of Liverpool City Region’s most famous, popular and successful organisations have been appointed as Chair and Deputy Chair of The Mersey Partnership’s Visitor Economy Committee, the Tourist Board for the Liverpool City Region.
Liverpool Football Club’s Commercial Director, Ian Ayre, has been appointed Chair of the City Region Tourist Board and has joined the main board of TMP. Michael Eakin, Chief Executive of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, has been appointed Deputy Chair of the Tourist Board. The appointments will take effect immediately and are for an initial term of 12 months. Both are unpaid non-executive roles.
Ian originates from Liverpool and has over 25 years of international experience in the sport, media and technology sectors in the UK and Asia. He joined LFC over two years ago to spearhead the development of the club’s commercial operations. He recently brokered a landmark shirt sponsorship deal with Standard Chartered Bank.
Michael Eakin has considerable experience in the arts, leisure, and tourism. Prior to his role as Executive Director, Arts Council England Northwest, from 2001 he was Director of Arts and Leisure for Reading. He has been involved in theatre management and led the establishment of the UK’s major world music festival, the World of Music Arts and Dance (WOMAD) Festival, in Reading. He took up his position as Chief Executive at the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic in October 2008.
Tourism in the Liverpool City Region currently generates £1.3bn per annum through visitor spend and supports 23,000 jobs. It has been identified as one of the four key transformational sectors for the Liverpool City Region.
TMP’s Chief Executive Lorraine Rogers said: “Ian and Michael will bring considerable international, commercial and cultural experience to our tourism sector. Together they will help maximise our destination’s enormous potential to create jobs and wealth through the visitor economy. They each represent outstandingly successful brands that are established around the world – brands and businesses that already contribute a huge amount to our destination’s appeal to visitors. They are committed to bringing a dynamic new leadership to the City Region’s Tourist Board.”
Both LFC and RLPO are Members of TMP. Over the coming weeks Ian and Michael will appoint between 6 and 8 people from key local tourism partners to the Tourist Board.
Ian Ayre said: “This region’s visitor economy can continue to play a significant part in creating jobs and wealth. The destination has benefited from many millions of pounds worth of private and public sector investment in recent years. We have a genuinely world-class offer built on a unique mix of culture, heritage and sport. I am pleased to be given the opportunity to work with TMP and lead the new body that is replacing the former Tourist Board. “
Michael Eakin said:”The region’s outstanding arts and cultural organisations make a huge contribution to the visitor economy and I am looking forward to being able to work with partners and colleagues to achieve further success together.”
Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive of the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), said: “These two new appointments are great news for TMP; both Ian and Michael bring diverse experience and expert knowledge to the new Visitor Economy Committee. They both have an understanding of what makes the destination unique as well as the commitment to quality that is needed to grow the visitor economy in the Liverpool City Region. I look forward to working with them over the coming year.”
The formation of a new Tourist Board is part of a restructuring of TMP announced in July. In addition, Ian Ayre will Chair a Visitor Economy Panel of over 40 participants and experts in the sector to maximise engagement with partners across Liverpool City Region.
The Liverpool City Region’s Visitor Economy Strategy for the next decade to 2020 will be launched by TMP on 5th October.
Topics: Economy, jobs, philharmonic, private investment, public investment, tourist
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