Business agency boss starts work

Deborah Cadman OBE is EEDA's new chief executive

A development agency's new chief executive has started work and said her first priority was to help local firms.

Deborah Cadman has started work at the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) and said her priority was to help firms compete in global markets.

Ms Cadman, awarded an OBE for services to local government in 2006, joins EEDA from St Edmundsbury Borough Council in Suffolk, where she was chief executive.

She worked in regeneration roles and for the Audit Commission.

Ms Cadman said: "EEDA has already achieved a great deal and I'm looking forward to working closely with our partners and businesses to move the region forward.

"In recent weeks I've been visiting businesses across the region and have been hugely impressed by their innovation, product development and future plans.

"Our role at EEDA is to help foster that talent, through our business support and innovation programmes."

Richard Ellis, chairman of EEDA said: "She brings an enormous amount of experience of private-public sector partnership experience, including running two of the biggest regeneration projects in Europe.

"This, and her background in local and central government, make her the ideal person to take EEDA forward with a clear focus on driving sustainable economic growth."