Shane Flynn to head the Chester Renaissance

9 May 2008

Chester Renaissance, the organisation tasked with making Chester a must-see European city by 2015, has appointed former MBNA Europe Chief Executive Shane Flynn as its chairman. Mr Flynn is a founder of Cordjia LLC, a private equity company based in the USA.

Mr Flynn, 46, who led MBNA Europe from 2004 until 2006, heads the private and public sector partnership board that will oversee the £1.5 billion Renaissance programme of new developments and city centre improvements which aim to make Chester an outstanding place to live visit and do business.

Mr Flynn said: "I was impressed by Chester as soon as I moved here. I love its history and beauty and most particularly the warmth and quality of its welcome to people from all over the world. It’s a great city, but it can and needs to be even better if it is to compete with places overseas and in the UK that have raised their standards.

"The people involved with the Chester Renaissance impressed me with their ambition for the city and with their realism. They are determined to improve Chester and I am honoured to accept this invitation to help them."

Councillor Mike Jones, Chester City Council’s executive member for development said: "We are absolutely delighted to have secured Shane Flynn as chairman.

"For Chester to achieve its vision it needs to be able to attract international investment. In Shane we have someone who has a commitment to Chester and whose international experience will make this happen. He is highly respected throughout the financial world and he has lived and worked in Chester so knows the city well – its good points and the areas where we need to improve."

Paul Norman, development director of Liberty Properties said: "Liberty is proud to be associated with the Chester Renaissance and we are confident that our HQ development overlooking the famous Roodee Racecourse will play its part in making the city a must-see European destination.

"The development features 80,000 sq ft of high specification office space, an Abode boutique hotel, including a Michael Caine’s signature restaurant, 35 luxury apartments and two restaurants all centred round a sophisticated piazza. We expect to complete the project in June 2009."

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