Enquiry called as Marketing Leeds chief executive vacates position
Councillors in Leeds are understood to have called for an inquiry into Marketing Leeds’ branding project following the departure of the organisation’s chief executive Kevin Johnson. A statement was released in March revealing that Johnson had left Marketing Leeds by \"mutual consent,\" just seven months after taking on the role.
The Yorkshire Evening Post has since revealed that members of the council’s overview and scrutiny committee had called for an inquiry, with Councillor Keith Wakefield, leader of Leeds City Council’s Labour Group, confirming that he would be speaking with Marketing Leeds about the situation.
The concern comes just six months after the launch of the ‘Leeds, Live it, Love it’ brand, created by An Agency Called England, which has received a mixed response. Johnson was at the centre of the controversy when England replaced Thompson on the project just two months prior to the brand launch.
Although unavailable to discuss the matter further, an official release included the following statement from Jan Fletcher, chairman of Marketing Leeds: \"Kevin ... approached his role with a great deal of energy and was fully committed to raising the profile of this wonderful city.”
The release also included a comment from Johnson, who stated: \"I have enjoyed working in such a vibrant city. I hope my contribution has played a part in establishing the first destination marketing organisation. I wish the team every success.\"
An industry insider told Adline: \"A city that doesn’t know what it’s saying about itself will always have its victims. It remains to be seen whether Kevin Johnson is a victim of circumstances or a major contributor to the Leeds ‘brand’.
\"It’s also interesting how the big story is about Kevin Johnson leaving and not the failure of Marketing Leeds to create a brand that truly represents the city.\"
Councillor Andrew Carter, leader of Leeds City Council, was positive that the organisation would be able to take the project forward. He commented that: \"Marketing Leeds is very lucky to have such a strong and experienced board with prominent figures from across the city region.
“It is vital that we raise the profile of the city and its region in order to compete nationally and internationally and Marketing Leeds is a powerful partnership to make this happen.\"
Johnson’s immediate departure has seen KPMG brought in to provide project management assistance to the board until a successor is appointed.