Mayor of London ushers in change by appointing new interim chair and chief executive to the LDA

London mayor Boris Johnson has removed Mary Reilly, chair of the London Development Agency (LDA) Board, and Manny Lewis, chief executive of the London Development Agency, from their roles.

Johnson has nominated Harvey McGrath as the interim chair of the LDA. He has also recommended former chief executive at the City of Westminster Peter Rogers as the interim chief executive.

Johnson said: “I was elected on a very clear mandate of providing value for money for London taxpayers. It starts here with the London Development Agency.

"Harvey McGrath has served as vice chair of the new London Skills and Employment Board since its inception and is a prominent figure in the capital’s business community. He has unrivalled knowledge of business and of skills and employability issues in London. He is supremely qualified to get the most out of this vital London organisation.

“Peter Rogers has a proven track record of delivering in Westminster and his experience in reducing costs and implementing transparency is exactly what the LDA needs to start delivering for taxpayers with immediate effect.

“I’m delighted to recommend Harvey and Peter to act as interim heads while we launch open searches for the best qualified long term leaders who can get the best out of the LDA in years to come.”