Paul Southby has been appointed Chairman of the board of Marketing Nottingham & Nottinghamshire, the new Place Marketing Organisation (PMO) created to promote inward investment, tourism and business events in Nottingham and Nottinghamshire, effective immediately.

 The new PMO will combine Experience Nottinghamshire, Invest in Nottingham and Nottingham Means Business into one company, with the objective of driving economic growth through increased inward investment and improved visitor numbers, spend and length of stay.

 Formerly the Chairman of Nottingham Means Business, Paul Southby brings extensive experience in promoting inward investment and helping drive economic growth for the city, and is already closely affiliated with senior team members across the three existing organisations. Paul is a partner at the law firm Geldards.

 In reference to the current plans for the organisation, Southby said: “This is an exciting time for the city and county. Our immediate focus is on strategy development and on ensuring continuity of business. We’ll be sure to deliver the same excellent service across all markets to our business partners and stakeholders, whilst we consult on and develop a single business strategy for the future, and a set of consistent messages by which we and partner organisations across the county can market Nottingham and Nottinghamshire’s great offer.”

Paul Southby is currently working with senior team members across the entire business to determine the new board structure.  The reshaped board will reflect the company’s wider remit and the board will oversee the development of a unified place marketing strategy for Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. A business plan for the merged organisation should be in place by autumn. 

Jennifer Spencer, Chief Executive of Experience Nottinghamshire, currently a trading name of the new PMO, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Paul Southby as the new Chairman of our board; he is perfectly placed to help us deliver a unified promotional message about the entire Nottinghamshire offer.”

The new approach has strong backing from the City and County and District Councils, all of which have extended their existing funding contracts with Experience Nottinghamshire for the transitional period, and are committed in principle to providing increased funding to the new place-marketing organisation in the longer term.

Nick McDonald, Portfolio Holder for Jobs, Growth and Transport, said: “I’m delighted Paul Southby has accepted the position of Chairman of the board of Marketing Nottingham and Nottinghamshire. He has led Nottingham Means Business with great distinction over the last few years, and is I know a passionate advocate for the City of Nottingham and wider county. There is much to be done to establish the new team as one of the UK’s leading place marketing organisations, but that must be the aim. We must now seize the moment to better promote this great city and county, bring more visitors here, bring more employers here, and grow our economy. I have no doubt Paul’s appointment will help us on that journey.”

Councillor Diana Meale, Chair of Economic Development at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “Paul is as passionate as we all are about making Nottinghamshire and Nottingham a fantastic place to live, visit, work and do business and has an impressive record of attracting investment into the area in his role as Chair of Nottingham Means Business. By bringing together the existing expertise and resources of Experience Nottinghamshire and Invest in Nottingham under one roof, we can create a single, unified strategy for promoting the area to investors and tourists and create the good quality jobs and growth we all crave.”

Councillor David Lloyd, Deputy Leader of Newark & Sherwood District Council and Chair of Economic Development Committee, said: “As the home of a thriving business community and many of the top visitor attractions in the county, Newark & Sherwood is looking forward to working with the new PMO to build on the great work already being done.”