The Chief Executive of Marketing Lancashire has said that she’s stepping down.
Rachel McQueen has made the decision following Lancashire County Council’s announcement this morning that it would be repositioning the destination marketing organisation.
The proposal means that Marketing Lancashire’s staff “and their duties” will be transferred to the County Council.
It forms part of the Lancashire 2050 framework, led by the county’s 15 councils, which aims to “bring people together with a shared vision, shared ambition, shared goals and shared priorities.”
“As the county moves forward with a shared vision, defined within the Lancashire 2050 framework, it is critical that the work of Marketing Lancashire is strategically aligned in order to support the delivery of that vision, and ensure that the value of the visitor economy is highlighted as a key part of the overall ambition,” said McQueen.
“In order to achieve that goal, the decision has been taken to reposition the organisation, and for the staff and duties of Marketing Lancashire to be transferred to Lancashire County Council. It is a common model for DMOs to be run from within host local authorities, and Marketing Lancashire will continue to deliver all the support services and activities for partners, stakeholders and ambassadors that we have done previously.
“As part of this transition, I have decided that it is the right time for me to step down as Chief Executive. I have been working with the Marketing Lancashire team, with the Board and with colleagues at Lancashire County Council to deliver an effective handover. I have no doubt that Lancashire remains in a strong position to apply for LVEP status, and I wish the team all the very best of luck as they continue to focus 100% on the promotion of Lancashire as a place to live, work, visit, study and invest.
“I will always be a huge supporter of Lancashire and I would like to thank all the people who have welcomed me, supported me and inspired me over the last five years (not to mention fed and watered me!). Above all, I would like to thank the Marketing Lancashire team for their passion and their dedication. I leave Lancashire in the best of hands, and look forward to cheering on from the sidelines as the county continues to go from strength to strength.”
Marketing Lancashire was originally set up in 2004 as the Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board ltd, but rebranded in Marketing Lancashire in 2012 – it is wholly owned by Lancashire County Council.
McQueen joined the organisation in 2018, focusing on raising its profile nationally and internationally and signing high profile ambassadors, including Andrew Flintoff.
The County Council said they would now be looking at how Marketing Lancashire could “continue to build on strong relationships to work collaboratively and appropriately with the private sector in the future.”
One of the proposals is to establish a new board so that it could become apply to be a local visitor economy partnership (LVEP)
“Marketing Lancashire has always been wholly owned by Lancashire County Council and taking this course of action will enable us to direct it so that it is aligned with the shared vision for Lancashire,” explained County Councillor Aidy Riggott, Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Growth.
“It also helps to ensure our wider commitment to working in partnership for the benefit of the whole county, as set out in the Lancashire 2050 framework.
“Doing this will mean we are all aligned to support projects to get the best for Lancashire.”
