LDA appoints Tom Russell to head Olympic Legacy Directorate

The London Development Agency today announced the appointment of Tom Russell to head its new Olympic Legacy Directorate from January 2008.

The Olympic Legacy Directorate will bring together the existing Olympic Land and Olympic Opportunities teams to maximise the physical, social and economic benefits of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games both now and in planning the largest physical regeneration opportunity in London.

Tom Russell will be the Group Director for Olympic Legacy. His initial priorities are:

• Continuing the Legacy Masterplanning process encompassing a framework for new homes, businesses, parkland, schools, health facilities, infrastructure and work space in the Olympic site after the Games.
• Continuing to supporting individuals and businesses to benefit from training, jobs and contracts linked to the opportunities generated by the Games.

Manny Lewis, Chief Executive of the London Development Agency (LDA), said:

"Tom has a successful track record in overseeing large scale urban regeneration projects similar to this one. His wealth of experience in working closely with communities and stakeholders is ideally suited to the challenges of producing sustainable new communities in London.

"The LDA is already delivering an Olympic legacy now through new jobs and training. Tom will continue to drive forward this work, along with the physical masterplanning which will help create a lasting change in east London."

Tom Russell said:

"Leading the Olympic legacy work in London is one of the most exciting regeneration roles in Europe. The Games are beginning to transform the Lower Lea Valley and offer skills, jobs and business opportunities right across the capital. Making the most of these legacy opportunities is a fundamental challenge for the LDA both before and after the Games."

Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said:

"Tom brings a unique range of skills in managing major urban regeneration projects which will help to ensure that all our priorities for creating new homes, jobs, and communities are delivered in a truly lasting legacy that will transform East London, one of the UK's most deprived areas."

The majority of Tom's career has been working at the centre of three large metropolitan local authorities, with a consistent focus on urban regeneration.

Having started his career working at the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham, his most recent roles include Chief Executive of New East Manchester Urban Regeneration Company (NEMURC) and Deputy Chief toExecutive of Manchester City Council.

Similar the Olympic legacy project, Tom successfully led the Strategic Regeneration Framework at NEWMURC to integrate major physical development with improvements of economic prospects and social conditions.

Its focus included economic development, employment and training, land and property development, housing and renewal development, education, crime and community safety.

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For media enquiries, please contact Andreas Christophorou at the LDA Media Team on 020 7593 8444 or email andreaschristophorou@lda.gov.uk.

Notes to Editors:

1. The London Development Agency works to improve quality of life for all Londoners and drive sustainable economic growth.
2. The LDA owns the Olympic Park and is leading on plans and designs for the site after the Games. Last month, the LDA announced the shortlist for its legacy masterplan team. The masterplan will form the basis of an outline planning application in 2009 which will provide the context for the development of a whole new place in London.
3. The LDA is delivering on Olympic legacy now. This work includes helping Londoners access skills, job and businesses opportunities through projects such as the Opportunities Fund, BOOST job brokerage service, Personal Best and an electronic business service to be launched early next year. The LDA has also developed of three state of the art business parks in Beckton, Leyton and Enfield for businesses relocating from the Olympic site.
4. On July 2 the LDA took control of the Olympic site - an area equivalent to Hyde Park - following the acquisition of 2,200 land and property interests. The LDA has supported 193 businesses to move. Almost all have relocated to new premises securing 98% of the 4,750 jobs on site. The Agency has also supported 425 residents, 35 Traveller families and 64 allotment holders to find new homes and premises nearby.
5. The Olympic site was handed over to the Olympic Delivery Authority at the end of July for demolition, remediation and construction of the stadium. It will come back into LDA control post Games to create the physical legacy.