City Centre Manager to leave his post

Following the dissolution of the City Centre Management Partnership, John Harvey, the City Centre Manager for some 18 years is to leave the role at the end of March 2015.

Involved in many aspects of the challenges and developments affecting the city centre, John will leave following a prolonged successful period of significant changes and the city centre riding out the recession against the national trend.

Richard Ball, Assistant Director Economy, at the City Council commented: "John has been a high profile figure and ambassador for the city centre, supporting many businesses over the years. I`m sure his proactivity will be missed. Against the increasingly difficult funding position facing the City Council, it will be very difficult to fill the hole left by the ending of this role, so effectively undertaken by John. "

David Shawyer, outgoing Chair of the Partnership, said: "Exeter has clearly achieved a number of notable successes in recent years and the City Centre Management Partnership has played a leading role
in delivering these, with John Harvey the City Centre Manager playing a key role.”

He added: “With the loss of the CCMP, we must now look to a fully participative and representative Business Improvement District to realise our city’s real potential. It’s vitally important that business owners and managers within the city take an active part in the BID. "

John Harvey, City Centre Manager, said: “I’ve very much enjoyed being at the heart of transforming Exeter City Centre in to the leading retail destination west of Bristol. I look forward to seeing the City Centre build on the significant investment we’ve delivered during the last 15 years with the advent of a Business Improvement District. We’ve created an outstanding City Centre, a real success story – it’s now really important to shout about that success story”.