The chief executive of Plymouth Waterfront Partnership is to quit and take over at the University of Plymouth's Students’ Union instead.
Sarah Gibson has worked with Plymouth’s Waterfront Business Improvement District (BID) since 2010 and overseen delivery of more than 70 projects that helped to transform the city’s waterfront areas.
But she is leaving in April 2020 to become chief executive of the University of Plymouth Students’ Union (UPSU) where Gina Connelly is retiring.
Ms Gibson leaves the Waterfront BID at a key time with the Mayflower 400 commemorations under way in Plymouth, but she stressed she will be on hand to steer projects until she departs in April and much of the planning is done now anyway.
The Plymouth Waterfront Partnership is a not for profit organisation set up to administer the Waterfront BID and currently represents more than 900 businesses including the Barbican, Hoe, Royal William Yard and Mount Batten. The Waterfront BID is not up for a renewal vote until 2022 but a recruitment process for Mrs Gibson’s successor will start soon.
Mrs Gibson said: “I believe in Plymouth and am deeply passionate about its success. After leading the Waterfront BID for a decade I’m very proud of the work we’ve achieved which has begun to transform our city’s fantastic waterfront.
“We’ve delivered two business plans totalling more than 70 projects and targeted £16million of investment, setting the foundations for a brighter future for our waterfront and its businesses.
“Winning a national Special Recognition award last year from British BIDs and seeing all the council’s preparations for Mayflower 400 come to fruition this year, it seems the right time to hand over to someone else to take the Waterfront BID forward into the future.”
UPSU is a £5millon-turnover charity and an Investors in People Gold standard organisation supporting 18,000 students across Devon and Cornwall.
Mrs Gibson said: “I’m very excited about my new role with the UPSU and am looking forward to working with their energetic team to support the goals of their enthusiastic and highly talented students to build on their national successes.
“Centred in Plymouth with campuses across Devon and Cornwall, there is fantastic opportunity for the Students’ Union and the university and I’m very much looking forward to taking up the challenge.”
Nick Buckland Plymouth Waterfront Partnership chairman, said: “We appreciate all the hard work Sarah has done for us and are very disappointed to be losing her from the waterfront but of course we are delighted for the student union and wish them and Sarah every success.”
Cllr Tudor Evans OBE, leader of Plymouth City Council, said: “Working with the council, the Waterfront BID has achieved a great deal over the past 10 years and has been a brilliant champion for the businesses it represents.
“We wish Sarah all the best and are pleased that she’ll still be working as part of the Plymouth family with the university’s Students’ Union.”
