Yorkshire Forward’s payouts revealed (From York Press)

Yorkshire Forward’s payouts revealed

9:50am Saturday 1st September 2012 in News

NEARLY £11 million has been given to the former staff of Yorkshire Forward in payouts as the regional development agency was closed.

Accounts for its final year revealed that Don Stewart, project director of the Direction Yorkshire tourism programme, who left in May 2011, received the largest compensation package of £103,017.

Dave Custance, director of urban renaissance and property who left in October 2010, left with £85,388 and Ruth Redfern, assistant chief executive who left in November 2011, received £81,934.

Jim Farmery, director of projects and programme until March 2012, received £69,417; Thea Stein, chief executive, got £62,734; Ruth Adams, director of business transition until March, got £60,650 and Trevor Shaw, executive director of finance got £51,509.

Simon Hill, executive director of finance, was the only executive director not to get a payout after he resigned in June 2011. More than 300 staff received payments.

The organisation said that during the year it had created or safeguarded 3,033 jobs and created 58 new businesses.

Julie Kenny, chair of Yorkshire Forward, said: “Over the last year I have been most impressed with the efforts made by Yorkshire Forward’s staff. Their continued professionalism and commitment to deliver while adapting to the wind-down of Yorkshire Forward in difficult circumstances has been admirable.”