Marketing Leeds has appointed a new Chair and Deputy Chair as part of its reinvention as a broader delivery body for attracting investment to the city. 

Asda Chief Executive Andy Clarke is to take on the role of Chair of Marketing Leeds along with Roger Marsh of PwC, who will become Deputy Chair. The pair will lead the board of Marketing Leeds as it widens its focus to include attracting new business and tourists to Leeds, whilst continuing its current profile raising activity. 

Marketing Leeds is being developed as a new force in promoting the city’s profile and potential as it acquires a wider brief for maximising what Leeds has to offer.  It is taking on the additional brief for work previously done by Locate in Leeds, Visit Leeds and Conference Leeds. 

Andy Clarke, supported by Roger Marsh, will work closely with the new chief executive for Marketing Leeds, a role currently in recruitment, to spearhead its evolution as it encompasses and develops the work of these organisations.  Marketing Leeds works closely in partnership with its private and public sector stakeholders, known as Leeds champions, as well as its two shareholders, Leeds City Council and the Chamber of Commerce. 

Andy and Roger will take up their posts when outgoing chair, Nigel McClea, retires in October 2011 as his term of office comes to an end. 

Councillor Keith Wakefield, Leader of Leeds City Council, said: “I am delighted that Andy has agreed to chair Marketing Leeds and steer it through its evolution into a major player in attracting jobs, investment and people to the city. 

“As the head of one of the country’s biggest retailers with a major international company behind it, Andy is a key player in the commercial sector.  This further  consolidates the city’s links with ASDA, which of course has its headquarters here in Leeds. 

“It is a further bonus to have Roger’s expertise with his experience with one of the major international players in the financial industry as well as having also worked at the heart of government.  Andy’s and Roger’s input will be invaluable as we continue to work very hard to improve opportunities for local people in the face of enormous economic and employment challenges. They will help ensure that Leeds really capitalises on what it does best. 

“I would also like to pay tribute to the outgoing chair, Nigel McClea, who has provided excellent leadership to the board of Marketing Leeds over the last three years”. 

Andy Clarke began his retail career at the age of 17 while at school in Grantham, Lincolnshire.  He first joined ASDA in 1992, working in a variety of trading roles and as a store manager before joining clothing company Matalan in 2001 and later frozen foods firm Iceland. 

He returned to ASDA in 2005 and was appointed chief executive in spring last year.  Before re-joining ASDA he also chaired the CBI’s (Confederation of British Industry) distributive trades panel for almost two and a half years.  Andy Clarke is a keen rugby fan and played for the local Kesteven Rugby Club in Lincolnshire. 

Roger Marsh is the Office Senior Partner and leads PwC’s government and public sector practice across the North.  He is also a member of the UK Firm’s Supervisory Board, an elected governance body acting on behalf of the partners of the firm, 16,000 staff and £2.5bn of annual revenues.

Born in 1953, Roger was educated in the North East. Having completed his grammar school education, in 1972 he was sponsored to university by the former British Steel Corporation. Following graduation from Leeds University with a BSc (Honours) in metallurgy he joined Price Waterhouse where he trained and qualified as a chartered accountant. 

Before taking up his current role in the firm, Roger served at the heart of Government during a full time secondment to the Cabinet Office. Roger is regarded as one of the most experienced business recovery and insolvency experts in the country having been a partner for 23 years.  

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