Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership has announced the appointment of its first managing director.

Martin Yardley, who is director of city services and development at Coventry City Council, will be head of the executive team which runs the LEP, the partnership of private and public sector designed to drive forward the economy. Mr Yardley will work closely with LEP chair Denys Shortt, chief executive of Stratford-based DCS Europe, a manufacturer and distributor of health and beauty products.