Brian Johnson joins Solent LEP Board of Directors

Brian Johnson, UK Business Development Director at BAE Systems Maritime, has been elected to join Solent LEP’s (Local Enterprise Partnership’s) Board of Directors. It comes following a call for prominent business leaders to join the board earlier this summer.

The LEP Board is made up of business, education and local authority directors and was the first LEP in the country to have a fully-elected board. It takes responsibility for shaping economic strategy in the region, including the development of a Strategic Economic Plan for the area and delivery of a growth programme valued at over £1bn. The plan is supported by a 151.9m Local Growth Deal with Government to create up to 600 new jobs and enable 11,000 new homes to be built.

Brian is a familiar face to Solent LEP, having been chairman of the Marine and Maritime Steering Group for the last year.

Gary Jeffries, Chairman of the Solent LEP, said:

We are delighted to welcome Brian to the board. His experience in the defence sector, coupled with his in-depth knowledge of the marine and maritime industries, will be of huge value to us. These industries form some of the key areas that we are looking to grow over the coming years to further boost the Solent’s economy.

Brian added:

Business leaders all have a part to play in shaping the future of the region and I am very much looking forward to taking an active role. The LEP is doing a great job in building the economic prosperity of the Solent and I can’t wait to see what we can achieve together next.

Further information in relation to Solent LEP Business Director Elections is available here.