THE Chair of the Forest Economic Partnership (FEP) says it is great to have one of the county’s “most respected and well known” business people joining their board following the recent appointment of former newspaper editor Mr Ian Mean.

Mr Mean, who is currently the Gloucestershire Director of regional partnership Business West, joins the FEP board having been “an integral part” of the organisation since its inception four years ago.

Having worked as northern news editor and reporter for The Daily Mail, Ian is a former editor in chief of Gloucestershire Media - The Citizen and Echo - and was editor of the Western Daily Press before “retiring” four years ago.

The Forest Economic Partnership CIC (FEP) was launched in 2018 and constituted as a CIC in 2019.

The partnership seeks to “build bridges” between the community, businesses and local government to instigate “sustainable growth”.

In addition to his role with Business West, Mr Mean is currently a Board Member of GFirstLEP in Gloucestershire and Chair of 12 hospital trusts in the South Central division for organ donation committees, from Gloucestershire to the Isle of Wight.

He is also a former Vice Chairman of the Gloucester Heritage Urban Regeneration Company, a Freeman of the City of Gloucester and an honorary Vice President of Gloucestershire College.

On his appointment to the board, he said: “I have joined the board of FEP because I believe that the Forest of Dean has great prospects for growth in Gloucestershire and believe I can help the area develop its assets to the full.”

FEP Chair, Neill Ricketts, commented: “It is great to have one of the county’s most respected and well known business people joining the board, Ian brings a wealth of connections and experience to an already great board.”