Newham Business Improvement District (BID) welcomes new chair

Wednesday 9th March, 2022

Newham Business Improvement District (BID) has a new chair.

Leigh Ibbotson, director of property firm Cher Varya, has taken over from Carole Theobald, chief executive at iSightCornwall.

Carole is leaving her role with the BID after more than four years to allow another Newham business leader to head up the committee. 

Leigh, an experienced entrepreneur, says he’s looking forward to working with Newham’s wide variety of firms, helping to support and promote this key part of Truro.

“It’s a really great place to be,” he said, adding: “I have always been keen to help other businesses where I can. I would hope that my experience and my lateral way of looking at issues means I will be able to help with the process of improving the BID area.”

Leigh started running his own business when he was just 13-years-old, selling ice-cream in Padstow. Since then, he has worked in retail, public houses and hotels, holiday parks and more.

He and wife Lesley founded Cher Varya in 1983 and have built it into a successful group, which includes housing, commercial and construction companies.

Cher Varya’s head office moved to Riverside House in Newham five years ago.

The Newham BID delivers projects and services to more than 100 businesses in the area.