Tech City UK appoints new chief executive

Tech City UK has announced the appointment of Gerard Grech as its new chief executive officer (CEO), effective as of February 3rd 2013.

Mr Grech has more than 15 years of international management experience in the world of digital media, web and mobile, having worked with app developers and startups at Blackberry, Nokia, Nokia Growth Partners and Orange during his career.

He has been appointed as the successor to Joanna Shields, who has held the CEO role since October 2012 and has chosen to step down. However, she will continue to act as the organisation's chair.

She will cooperate with her successor and the rest of the team as the organisation works with the government on policy to support growth and entrepreneurship in the UK, focusing on building and promoting the tech and digital sector.

Mr Grech said: "My role … will be to help take things to the next level, delivering on key initiatives, introducing more partnerships and further solidifying Tech City in the international tech scene."

Tech City UK was created by prime minister David Cameron three years ago to support the growing tech business community in east London. Since then, the number of digital companies in the region has risen from around 200 to more than 1,300.