The Shareholder Committee (Cabinet Committee) of Oxfordshire Council met on Tuesday 14 July 2026, approving strengthened governance for Enterprise Oxfordshire and the appointment of its new Managing Director. The committee agreed to establish an Enterprise Zone Advisory Board and a county-wide Skills Board as sub-committees of the Enterprise Oxfordshire Board, and also agreed in principle to extend company membership to local public sector partners.

Company Membership and Structure of Enterprise Oxfordshire

The committee approved proposals to strengthen the governance and expand the partnership representation of Enterprise Oxfordshire. This includes the establishment of an Enterprise Zone (EZ) Advisory Board and a county-wide Skills Board, both to operate as formal sub-committees of the Enterprise Oxfordshire Board. The committee also agreed in principle to extend company membership to include local public sector partners. Officers were instructed to develop detailed governance proposals for these new structures, including recommendations for further sub-committees as appropriate. These changes aim to ensure Enterprise Oxfordshire remains fit for purpose, collaborative, and well-positioned to deliver long-term economic outcomes, reflecting the partnership nature of local economic development.

Enterprise Oxfordshire - Appointment of Managing Director

The committee approved the appointment of a new Managing Director for Enterprise Oxfordshire. The decision was made following a recruitment process that involved an interview panel comprising Alex Reip, Chair of the Enterprise Oxfordshire Board; Councillor Laura Gordon, Cabinet Member for Environment and Economy; Helen Brind, Director of Business and Skills at Enterprise Oxfordshire; Kim Sawyer, Programme Director Devolution at the County Council and Non-Executive Director of Enterprise Oxfordshire; and Robin Rogers, Director of Economy and Place at the County Council. The details of the appointed candidate and their contract terms were considered in an exempt session, as is standard practice for such appointments to protect individual privacy. The recruitment process was designed to be fair and transparent, with a broad search strategy to attract diverse candidates. The salary for the role was determined through a benchmarking exercise and is covered by Enterprise Oxfordshire's budget, with no financial implications for Oxfordshire County Council.

The decisions made at this meeting will become effective at the end of the working day on 17 July 2026, unless called in by the appropriate Scrutiny Committee for review.