New chief to boost rural areas

A new regeneration chief has been appointed to work on projects in rural areas of Staffordshire and the wider Midlands area.

Advantage West Midlands has appointed Henriette Lyttle-Breukelaar as partnerships director, with a specific remit to lead the agency's work in country areas.

Dutch-born Henriette, who replaces Mark Abrams, who left earlier this year, was previously head of tourism at Advantage West Midlands and before that held positions in the European funding and policy teams.

She will have responsibility for Staffordshire, Shropshire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire and Herefordshire. Henriette said: "I am excited about the challenges that lie ahead and look forward to working with the public, private and voluntary sectors to create strong, economically vibrant communities in all rural areas of the Midlands."

Corporate director of operations Karen Yeomans said she was delighted to welcome Henrietta to the team.

"I am confident that she will provide exceptional leadership and will pick up where Mark Abrams left off in forging strong partnerships in our rural areas," she added.

Advantage West Midlands is one of nine Regional Development Agencies in England which aim to help create more, better jobs and an improved quality of life for people living and working in the region.