Dust still clouds still have still not settled around Marketing Gloucester, but emerging from the recent storm is news of a new boss - and an axe hanging over the future of all its staff.

Since an independent report finally laid bare the privately-run city council-owned business was in fact insolvent, its future has been uncertain.

Former chief executive, Jason Smith, was sacked just before Christmas in the wake of the Grant Thornton report, which was roundly critical of how the council oversaw the running of the limited company.

Post-Christmas councillors decided the local authority was best-placed to take over Marketing Gloucester's duties organising such cultural events as the bi-annual Tall Ships and Gloucester Carnival - and its budget.

As speculation mounted as to what that all meant for the staff team at Marketing Gloucester, and the city council refusing to comment saying it was a matter for the company itself to deal with, two new pieces of news have emerged.

Firstly, the appointment of a new boss, Steve Brown (pictured below), and secondly - with unfortunate timing which is nothing to do with Mr Brown - all employees have been informed they have entered a 45-day period of consultation over their futures.

Mr Brown has been appointed as three-day-a-week interim chief executive of Marketing Gloucester for a period of three months and been in the position for only two days.

"My job is to get Marketing Gloucester into a good situation. Anything I can do to help that in terms of board members, a new chief executive and new directors - it is all up for grabs.

"I am optimistic that some good will come out of it.

"I believe we can build on the really good stuff that has already happened and move on from some of the issues that have been aired over the last few months," said Mr Brown.

His track record includes four years setting up and running Make It York, York's destination management organisation - until he announced in October 2018 he was moving on.

And he has also sat on the boards of Marketing Birmingham, the Newcastle Gateshead Initiative and the York Business Improvement District.

Councillor Steve Morgan, cabinet member for culture and leisure at Gloucester City Council, said: "We're looking forward to working closely with Steve to implement the recommendations of the cabinet report."

Read more: Marketing Gloucester boss sacked

Read more: Council takes control of Marketing Gloucester budget and events including the Tall Ships 

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