Digital property completions platfor Pexa has appointed Sir Roger Marsh as an ambassador and adviser to the board for the UK business as it looks to deepen its business relationships in Yorkshire and help grow the influence of the region’s tech hub across the UK.
He said: “Yorkshire – and the North more broadly – is a hotbed of innovation. It’s a really vibrant ecosystem boasting some big institutions as well as attracting start-ups and scale ups who want to use Leeds as a launch pad for their innovations. It is undoubtedly benefitting from significant international investment from important players like PEXA, not only in terms of it bringing proven technology to the market but also investing more widely in the growth of the tech ecosystem. I’m looking forward to working with PEXA to support its vision for the region, deepen its presence and help bring its benefits to the market.”
As Chair of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership between 2013 and 2022, Sir Roger was responsible for creating significant transformation in the area. He has played a substantial role in driving the Government’s vision for the development and levelling up of the North acting as Chair of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund Strategic Oversight Board as well as additional sub committees to raise funding for the region. Sir Roger was also the Chair for the NP11, which brings together the 11 Northern LEPs until 2023.
PEXA is already embedded in Yorkshire following its significant investment in the opening of its UK headquarters in Leeds and acquisition of the remortgage conveyancer Optima Legal, and it is involved in initiatives such as the Leeds Digital Festival, Legaltech Leeds, Fintech North and UKREiiF. It is now looking to deepen its ties to the business ecosystem and help grow the size and influence of the Yorkshire tech hub at a national level.
Glenn King, PEXA Group MD and CEO, added: “The north of England is home to some of the most exciting and innovative companies in the country, and Leeds’ business community is going from strength to strength. As an international property tech company, it has been a natural fit for our UK head office. It’s a pleasure to welcome Sir Roger, given his significant leadership experience and business expertise, and his passion for driving growth in the region through collaboration.”
Joe Pepper, UK CEO of PEXA, said: “Leeds has a really strong tech ecosystem that we are already embedding ourselves in, and we have had a tremendous level of support since we decided to base ourselves there. Now we’re determined to do more to help give these businesses a greater voice at the national level. Yorkshire is a thriving tech hub and the UK economy as a whole could benefit if only we work together to drive growth and further investment. With an extensive network and unrivalled experience, Sir Roger is the perfect person to help on this journey. We’re honoured he is coming on board.”
