Published at 15:35, Monday, 12 November 2012

Britain's Energy Coast has appointed its new chief executive.

Steven Szostak

Steven Szostak, 56, has joined from Regenerate Pennine Lancashire, where he was deputy managing director and head of investment.

Originally an urban planner, he has 20 years experience running several economic development and business support partnerships and has held regeneration-related positions with various councils.

A rugby league fan, Mr Szostak is looking forward to watching Whitehaven and Workington Town games. His son Alex plays back row for Sheffield Eagles and will be vying for a place in the Scotland squad for next year's World Cup.

He said his passion has always been to help build stronger, business-friendly economies that improve the job and career prospects of local people.

"West Cumbria is in the extremely fortunate position of facing huge investment in the local nuclear industry and has all the ingredients to grasp opportunities in clean technologies, in particular wet renewables,” he added.

Mr Szostak takes over from acting chief executive Tom Gilroy, who returns to Sellafield Ltd following a two-and-a-half year secondment.

Britain’s Energy Coast is funded by the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, Nuclear Management Partners and Sellafield Limited to deliver socio-economic developments across west Cumbria.

Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk