“THE North-East is the best region in the country and I have the best job in the North-East.”

It is fair to say that proud north easterner Bob Paton is bursting with enthusiasm about his new role as the North East LEP’s interim chief executive.

In his first interview since stepping into a job that was vacated by Edward Twiddy a year ago, the head of Accenture’s North East Delivery Centre told The Northern Echo that he is determined to ensure the region is at the heart of the government’s devolution drive.

“I want the North-East to be front and centre of what is happening regarding the Northern Powerhouse,” said Mr Paton, who will sit down next month with Local Growth and Northern Powerhouse Minister James Wharton to understand how the region can take greater control over its future prosperity.  

“We have a brilliant region in terms of our people and our will to succeed. If you are looking for a Northern Powerhouse then it is right here. You don’t have to go to Manchester to find it,” added Mr Paton. 

He denied that the Lep had lost momentum over the last year as it struggled to find a permanent replacement for Mr Twiddy. 

"They had a very good candidate who for personal reasons pulled out at the last minute. That left the Lep in a difficult position. Rather than restart the recruitment process the decision was made to make an interim appointment and I was approached."

Mr Paton said he was "very keen" to take the role and was therefore delighted when Accenture backed him to keep his day job at the IT firm and help lead the delivery of the LEP’s Strategic Economic Plan - something vital to creating more and better jobs in the region.

“I was born and bred in the North East, and I was absolutely delighted and proud to be asked to be interim chief executive,” said Mr Paton,58, who was raised in Ashington, Northumberland, and now lives near Hexham.

His role at the Lep is temporary, but asked if he would like the job on a permanent basis, Mr Paton replied: "All I can say is that I've not been asked to do it full time."

Would he like to take it full time? "I love doing it. That is all I can say at this stage"

The Northern Echo took that as a 'yes'.

*Read the full interview with Bob Paton in your Jobs&Business supplement in The Northern Echo next Wednesday.