Ilex appoints new chief executive
30 Mar 2006
Urban regeneration company Ilex today announced the appointment of Bill Kirk as its new Chief Executive. Bill is currently Chief Executive of Sheffield One URC, one of the 3 highly successful pilot Regeneration Companies which have proven the model. He has previously held senior posts with the East Midlands Regional Development Agency and English Partnerships, his earlier career being in English and Welsh Local Authorities.
Speaking of his appointment Mr Kirk commented: “I am delighted to take up the post of Chief Executive of Ilex at such an exciting time for the Derry City Council area. The recently published Regeneration Plan sets out the key priorities for the coming years and Ebrington and Fort George, which will both be under the direct control of Ilex, will play a major part in both the economic and physical transformation of the city”.
Chairman of Ilex, Eddie Friel, welcomed the appointment and said “Bill comes to Ilex with a wealth of experience gained in a number of UK cities which have had similar problems to Derry-Londonderry. As Chief Executive of Sheffield One he has championed the renaissance of Sheffield city centre and while in the Midlands he lead the re-development of the coalfields ”.
Ilex is currently developing master plans for the Ebrington and Fort George sites, both of which will be put to mixed use based on sectoral priorities outlined in the Regeneration Plan.
Bill is looking forward to taking up the post at the beginning of June.
For further information contact Mo Durkan, tel. 028 712 69226 or 07917 544297.
EDITOR’S NOTES
Ilex was set up in 2003 by the Northern Ireland Office of the First and Deputy First Minister (OFMDFM) and the Department for Social Development (DSD) to plan, develop and sustain the economic, physical and social regeneration of the Derry City Council area.
Ilex oversees former military bases Ebrington (26 acres) and Fort George (14 acres) and will convert both sites into world-class, multiple-use developments. Ebrington comprises 19th century star fortifications and multiple two- and three-storey buildings, some of which are under consideration for listing.