LLEP appoints two new members to its board of directors

The Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership Ltd (LLEP) is delighted to announce the appointment of Larraine Boorman and Clare James MBE to its Board of Directors.

Larraine Boorman is Chairman and Chief Executive of Optima UK, while Clare James has recently been appointed Managing Director of East Midlands Airport.

Business leaders were invited to apply to join the LLEP Board to play a major role in driving economic growth and prosperity in the city and county. Larraine and Clare are outstanding local business leaders who will bring a wealth of experience and a unique perspective to help the LLEP deliver its ambition.

Larraine Boorman has over 25 years’ senior executive experience and brings significant and diverse sector knowledge to the LLEP Board. She started her career as a ‘fast-track’ management trainee in the engineering and manufacturing sectors, before moving into senior management roles in engineering; logistics and distribution; construction; employment and skills; and training and education.

This is not the first time Larraine’s expertise has been called upon in this kind of role: she has previously held sector association board positions and represented industry at political policy forums at both Whitehall and Holyrood.

Upon her appointment to the LLEP Board of Directors, Larraine said:

“I’m delighted to be joining the LLEP Board. I have lived and worked in Leicestershire for many years, and through my work with Optima UK am confident that I can deliver for our region’s SMEs.

“Optima’s vast client base is very representative of the local Leicester and Leicestershire economy, and it is important to me that they are served as best we can through strong trusted and respectful relationships, collaboration, influence and support.  By representing the LLEP as a non-executive Board Member, I can bring first-hand, practical insights from the business community and as a representative of local SMEs.”

Clare James MBE was appointed Managing Director of East Midlands Airport (EMA) in July 2020. Before taking on the role, she was Operational Excellence Director at Manchester Airport Group (MAG), the parent company of EMA.

Clare joined MAG in January 2019 from NATS Holdings, a global leader in air traffic management, where she held a number of roles, including Group Customer Account Director. In her time at NATS, Clare was responsible for the operation of Air Traffic Control across some of the UK’s busiest airports, including Manchester and London Stansted. Clare also held the post of Airfield Operations Director at Serco.

Before joining the private sector, Clare had a distinguished career in the Royal Air Force, and was made an MBE for her service in 2007. As well as her active tours of duty, she held several notable posts, including Commanding Officer at the Central Air Traffic Control School, and Head of Regulation – a role in which she helped to establish the Military Aviation Authority.

Kevin Harris is Chair of the LLEP Board of Directors. He said:

“I’m sure the rest of the Board will join me in wholeheartedly welcoming both Larraine Boorman and Clare James to the LLEP Board of Directors. Their appointment will galvanise our ability to champion Leicester and Leicestershire as an outstanding region in which to live, to work and to invest.

“The LLEP is committed to equality of representation at all levels of our decision-making processes. Both women are outstanding local business leaders, offering unique and valuable perspectives as we continue our work to improve the economy of our incredibly diverse region.”

The LLEP Board plays an important role by shaping the strategy for growth, making key investment decisions and acting as ambassadors for Leicester and Leicestershire at a local, national and international level.