CEO of start-up business hub announces his departure

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The CEO of the Caerphilly-based Welsh Innovation Centre for Enterprise (Welsh ICE) has announced he will be leaving the role at the end of the month.

Jamie McGowan, who has been CEO since July 2020, will be joining TownSq as its new Community Director.

TownSq, which is based in Caerphilly and was set up in 2017 by Mandy Weston and Gareth Jones – the founders of Welsh ICE – runs a host of co-working spaces across the UK.

Before becoming CEO of Welsh ICE, Mr McGowan worked as its Campus Director.

Welsh ICE, which is based on Caerphilly Business Park, is one of five regional enterprise hubs across Wales, all funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government.

The hubs will see over £4m invested to provide supportive spaces and mentoring for new and growing businesses, with the ICE Campus supporting the South East Wales Valleys region.

Announcing his departure, Mr McGowan said: “In what has been a tumultuous year, we as a community have stood strong, supported each other, and grown as we met every challenge.

“I have also grown personally; becoming a father during the peak of a pandemic has opened my eyes to the importance of making the most of every opportunity. Therefore, it is time for me to take on new challenges.”

He said his new role will “allow me to take all that I have learnt building this community in Caerphilly and apply it to TownSq’s growing portfolio of spaces across the UK”.

He added: “This has obviously not been an easy decision, but it comes from a good place.

“ICE and our amazing team has achieved great things over the years. We’ve won significant contracts allowing us to support stacks of entrepreneurs and we’ve grown and improved our Caerphilly Campus – but it’s time for me to help replicate this further afield.

“ICE has got an amazing future and will be led by our incredible team moving forward. In Llinos Neale, Lesley Williams and Rachel Harris, ICE has a world class management team which will lead the business from September onwards.

“They will be supported by Adrian Walker as MD and Anthony Record MBE as Chair. The fact that our management team is so strong has made this decision slightly easier.”