Insider Media Limited

Former National Express director David Kaye has left the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) board, Insider has been told. Kaye's departure could clear the way for a female board member to take up a seat, as the government will not "officially recognise" the LEP without representation from at least one woman.

The Birmingham and Solihull LEP confirmed to Insider that Kaye would depart the board after stepping down from his position as managing director of National Express' bus division earlier this year.

A spokesman said the search for a replacement was "due very soon". The LEP added that it would recruit "the best person for the job, whether that be male of female".

The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) confirmed that the absence of a female representative on the board has meant the organisation will not be formally recognised by the government.

A spokesman for BIS told Insider: "We have been in discussions with the LEP about how to resolve the issue and move forward."

The LEP said that an all-male board did not affected how it conducted its business.

The spokesman added: "In a technical term, we are not recognised [because we have no women members of the board]. But it is a technical thing and makes no difference to the way we do business. We've had several high ranking ministerial visits, so in terms of recognition, we're clearly on the map as far as the government is concerned."

The LEP's chairman is John Lewis' managing director Andy Street. He is supported by Steve Hollis, Midlands chair of accountancy firm KPMG, Nick Bunker, UK president of Kraft Foods and Cadbury and Brian Francis, European group chair, ThyssenKrupp.

Paul Heaven, the owner of Blue Sky Corporate Finance, also takes a seat alongside Wade Lyn, managing director of Island Delights and Alan Volkaerts, director of Jaguar Land Rover's Solihull plant.

The public sector representatives on the board, including Professor David Eastwood, vice chancellor at the University of Birmingham and councillors from Birmingham, Cannock Chase, East Staffordshire, Lichfield, Solihull, Bromsgrove and Tamworth, are all male.