Jim Gill will head agency created from a merger of three regeneration companies

The chief executive for the new regeneration agency for Liverpool has been announced.

Jim Gill is currently chief executive of Liverpool Vision, the city centre regeneration company which is one of three being merged to form the new body.

The new body, which is yet to be named, is being created from a merger of Vision; the Liverpool Land Development Company, which looks after regeneration developments outside of the city centre; and inward investment agency Business Liverpool.

Gill has led Vision since 2001, winning an OBE for services to regeneration in 2006. However, he was also at the organisation when it was criticised for its part in the collapse of the Fourth Grace project.

Gill said: "This is one of the most important periods in Liverpool's history. Working with the private sector on building on that new found confidence and investment in the city will be the central tenet of the new company. It is my job to make sure it hits the ground running."

Liverpool council leader Warren Bradley said that: “there are very few people in the UK who have as much experience and expertise in regeneration as Jim Gill.”