It is with huge excitement and some fear that I move to a new role as executive director of economy, growth and commercial for Surrey CC. It's a new role which pulls together the key strategic elements needed to make Surrey a great place for businesses to grow.

It's a new role so my first task is for everybody to understand what my job is – to grow Surrey's economy and ensure the council interacts with businesses and partners in a commercially capable way which engenders success for both the people who live and work in Surrey and for the council and its partner authorities.