Richard May

CEO

Richard is the CEO for the Plymouth and South Devon Freeport. Richard led the successful Freeport bid and is Senior Responsible Officer for its delivery. Prior to his interim role, and now permanent position as CEO, Richard previously managed marine investment for Plymouth City Council bringing together marine technical businesses with affiliated research, knowledge partners and the wider ecosystem, under the collective name of Ocean Futures; a programme that the Freeport will play a key part in. The Ocean Futures aim is to establish Plymouth and the South West as an internationally recognised Innovation Hub and a UK National Centre for Excellence for Marine Technology – with leading capabilities in marine autonomy and geo-spatial data, clean propulsion and ocean sustainability.

Prior to joining Plymouth City Council, Richard was Innovation Director at Oxford Innovation managing business support programmes for 140 small tech companies and leading incubation programmes for the UK Space Agency. He also has over 25 years of business and senior management experience gained in the technology and consulting departments of leading global companies like Credit Suisse, PriceWaterhouseCoopers and Arthur Andersen. 

Ian Cooper

Operations Director

Ian is the operational leader for the Plymouth and South Devon Freeport. Having graduated from Keele Law School in 2005, Ian started his career in financial services working for RBS and Miller Insurance. As a Lloyd’s and London market insurance broker he worked closely with underwriters to secure appropriate (re)insurance coverage for clients operating in the marine and energy industries. More recently, Ian has operated in a local authority setting for Plymouth City Council as part of the team responsible for delivering The Box – Plymouth’s award-winning museum, gallery and archive. This included being a member of the senior client team, taking ownership of the business plan, and leading the operational delivery of The Box estate following the completion and opening of the venue in 2020.

Ian knows first-hand the importance of education and upskilling, having benefited from an Arts and Humanities Research Council scholarship during his doctoral studies. He is therefore passionate about the Freeport’s regeneration agenda – to increase economic specialisation and earnings, tackle deprivation, and enhance skills capacity.

Eifion Jones

Business Growth and Investment Director

Eifion is the Business Growth and Investment Director for the Plymouth and South Devon Freeport. Prior to joining the Freeport team, Eifion was Chief Operating Officer at the Heart of the SW Local Enterprise Partnership, leading delivery of the LEP’s £250 million investment programme and the LEP’s wider operations. As well as experience in European funding, Eifion also worked for 15 years in the private sector, mainly at Toyota’s UK sales and marketing head office where he led the product planning and sales planning functions.

A keen sailor and follower of Exeter Chiefs, Eifion is also hardened to the stresses and strains of supporting the men’s Wales rugby team.

Rebekah Southern

Strategic Partnerships Director

Rebekah has joined Plymouth and South Devon Freeport as Strategic Partnerships Director on a 0.6 FTE contract having worked with the Freeport team in a consultancy capacity for almost four years.  She project managed and led the drafting of the original Freeport bid as well as the outline and full business cases and has also provided mobilisation support during the set up phase.  With a PhD in community regeneration, Rebekah has a strong commitment to local economic development.  Through her company, Southern Horizons (UK) Ltd, Rebekah has evaluated more than 30 projects/programmes under various funding streams and has also helped to secure funding for several local initiatives as well as providing support for regional developments such as the Heart of the SW Local Industrial Strategy.

Prior to setting up her own company in 2012, Rebekah was the Associate Director for Research & Innovation at the University of Plymouth and before that she was the co-founder and first Director of SERIO, a successful commercially funded research centre, in which she designed, managed and delivered numerous research and consultancy projects to successful completion.

Rebekah will continue to provide consultancy services alongside her Freeport role.