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Worcester BID has appointed three dynamic new board members Anja Potze, Sam Pisani, and Richard Wheatly, to join its executive team.
The new appointees are well-known to Worcester’s business community. Anja Potze is the owner of Anja Potze Fine Jewellery, Sam Pisani is the manager of Cathedral Square, and Richard Wheatly is the manager of Boleros.
The appointments mark an exciting new phase for Worcester as the city is set to enjoy huge financial investment in the near future.
Phoebe Dawson, BID Chief Executive, said: “We are delighted to welcome Anja, Sam and Richard to join the BID board – their expertise will prove invaluable to our team.
“Anja, Sam and Richard are recognised in the city as successful leaders in their fields. They understand the challenges faced by Worcester businesses and will be able to provide practical support during their tenure.
“City centres are facing a challenging time, but Worcester continues to buck national trends and the next few years promise to be an exciting time with millions of pounds worth of investment already committed.”
Each new board member brings a different skill set and varied life and work experience to the board.
Anja takes great pride in being one of Worcester’s independent traders. She is a member of the Worcestershire Ambassadors, as well as a governor at Tudor Grange Academy. Anja won the ‘Heart of Gold’ award in the national Small Business Awards for her ongoing commitment to causes including Worcester Hospital’s Breast Cancer Unit, and as a Patron of CG5.
Anja said: “I moved to Worcester and have made it my home and I’ve always tried to give back to the city that so welcomed me and helped make my business to make it the success that it is today. I’m delighted to be able to support other businesses in this new role.”
Worcester boy Sam Pisani has managed Cathedral Square since 2014. He spent his formative years at Christopher Whitehead School and has since had senior roles at retail management giant MJ Mapp, and at Mitie Managed Services where he worked on the N.Power contract in Worcester.
Sam said: “The development of Cathedral Square has been a proven success for the city and now Worcester is looking at its next phase of investment and development, I’m looking forward to sharing my learnings from managing the prosperous Cathedral Square.”
At just 29, Richard Wheatley is the youngest member to join the board. He started his hospitality career in a professional kitchen aged just 16, rising to become head chef at 21, before switching to a front of house role. He was the head chef at Worcester’s Glass House before moving to Bolero, and is one of the founders of the city’s incredibly popular Gin Festival, which brought over 2000 people to the city over May bank-holiday weekend 2018.
Richard said: “Worcester is becoming known for its excellent restaurants and bars and I’m delighted to have been part of this transformation. The city’s festivals are also attracting thousands of people to the county every year and it’s a lively community that is thriving and with the right help will really flourish.”
For more information about Worcester BID, contact 01905 731612 or info@worcesterbid.com or visit www.worcesterbid.com
