THE former head of St Edmundsbury Borough Council said yesterday she was looking forward to championing the region as she took up her new role as chief executive of the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) yesterday .

THE former head of St Edmundsbury Borough Council said yesterday she was looking forward to championing the region as she took up her new role as chief executive of the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) yesterday .

Deborah Cadman, who takes over from David Marlow, will be ensuring the organisation is more resource efficient, and helping business to better compete in a global market in her new high-powered role.

“I am very excited to be joining EEDA and having the opportunity to play a part in the development of this region's huge potential,” said Ms Cadman, who has held senior regeneration roles in local government, and worked for the Audit Commission.

Mr Marlow left EEDA after five years at the helm to pursue a career in public policy and economic development consultancy.

“EEDA has already achieved a great deal and I'm looking forward to working closely with our partners and businesses to move the region forward,” said Ms Cadman.

“In recent weeks, I've been visiting businesses across the region and have been hugely impressed by their innovation, product development and future plans.

“Our role at EEDA is to help foster that talent, through our business support and innovation programmes.”

Ms Cadman said she was looking forward to working with partners and colleagues in championing the region at national and international level.

“The East of England is a diverse region with different qualities and challenges, but that's what makes it a great place to live, work and visit,” she said.

Richard Ellis, chair of EEDA, said Ms Cadman brought “an enormous amount” of experience of private-public sector partnership experience to the role, including running two of the biggest regeneration projects in Europe.

“This, and her background in local and central government, make her the ideal person to take EEDA forward with a clear focus on driving sustainable economic growth,” he said.

Barbara Follett, regional minister for the East of England, said: “I am very pleased indeed that Deborah Cadman has joined EEDA as its chief executive at this critical point in the East of England's history.”

She said Ms Cadman had the experience needed to steer EEDA through the challenges posed by the region's plans for major growth and the commitment needed to keep things on course in difficult economic times.

Ms Cadman, who received an OBE for her services to local government in 2006, is succeeded as chief executive at St Edmundsbury by her husband, Geoff Rivers, who currently heads South Norfolk Council.