THE managing director of Make It York has announced he will leave the company.

Steve Brown has worked with the tourism organisation for four years, and announced he will leave the company at Christmas.

He said: "It has been a privilege to help set up and lead Make It York for four years but I feel the time is now right for me and the company for there to be a change. The company is financially sound, is in good shape and has a fantastic team of people working hard for the benefit of York."

Lady Jane Gibson, chair of Make It York, said Mr Brown had been "an exceptional leader".

She said: "He has brought tremendous energy and management experience to the new company and has worked tirelessly for the staff and volunteers and for York.

"He deserves to feel very proud of the respect that stakeholders have for him. The Board and I will miss him greatly. Steve’s legacy is a strong, financially stable company and recruitment is now underway for the next talented person to take Make It York into the next decade."