A former managing director of a host of well-known property companies has been appointed the new chief executive of the county’s inward investment agency.

Locate in Kent’s board has appointed Nick Fenton - formerly an executive with house-builders Wimpey Homes, Barratt Homes and Ward Homes - as its new CEO.

He has been a non-executive director at Locate in Kent since 2009, when he became chairman of the Kent housing and development group.

The inward investment organisation looks to attract and retain companies in Kent in order to create jobs and prosperity. Its last CEO, Gavin Cleary, left in August 2022 after four years in post.

Since its creation in 1997, it has helped more than 12,500 firms grow or expand in the county and helped support and retain more than 80,000 jobs.

David Brooks-Wilson, chairman of Locate in Kent, said: “Nick is someone who knows what it takes to build success in Kent. With his property industry know-how, commercial acumen, and excellent connections with both the private and public sectors, he is the perfect choice to be our next CEO.”

Mr Fenton has also been an interim director for infrastructure with Ebbsfleet Garden City - supporting the early delivery of utility infrastructure. He is also a board member of the Kent and Medway Economic Partnership as well as sitting on the board of the Kent and Medway Business Advisory Group.