A new leadership team for the London Legacy Development Corporation (LLDC) is announced today (TUESDAY 13/8) as Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park prepares to deliver the next stage of the greatest Games legacy.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced he intends to appoint Suki Kalirai as the new Chair, subject to consideration by the London Assembly. Shazia Hussain has been appointed as the new Chief Executive.

Suki brings over 20 years of experience in non-executive director roles in a variety of sectors including consumer goods, building (both commercial and social housing), education and e-commerce, as well as charities and industry association boards in the leisure and hospitality sectors. He is currently also Chair of Paragon Asra Housing and is NED and chair of the retirement living part of Housing 21.

Suki also brings 25 years of knowledge and experience from his careers in senior executive roles at Coca-Cola, Forte & Le Meridien Hotels, and Unilever - Dove Spa.

He is a past advisor to the United Nations Secretary General for Sustainable Development (Earth Summit) supporting and liaising with leaders from 100 sovereign states on environmental and climate change policy.

Shazia Hussain, currently the Deputy Chief Executive at the London Borough of Waltham Forest, will be taking on the role of Chief Executive of LLDC in the autumn.

Shazia has over 20 years of senior strategic and operational delivery experience within Local Government that spans parks and open spaces, place making with economic and social regeneration, corporate policy and strategy, community safety and transformational change. Having started her career within regeneration she is committed to improving the social, economic and cultural condition of communities within east London.

Before her role at Waltham Forest, she was Assistant Chief Executive at Brent Council and before that, Divisional Director for Tower Hamlets - holding roles with accountability for strategic partnerships, service integration, learning and leisure and customer service. Earlier in her career she was Director of Community Development for Leaside Regeneration, providing another strong connection to the regeneration of east London.   

As part of the evolution, LLDC and its leadership will no longer have the strategic responsibility for London Stadium through its subsidiary E20 Stadium LLP.  From April 2025, this company will sit outside of LLDC and will be a subsidiary of GLA Holdings which is a wholly owned company of the Greater London Authority. The Mayor has announced his intention to appoint current LLDC Chief Executive, Lyn Garner, as Chair of the business. Lyn will work with the Stadium’s Chief Executive Graham Gilmore as it continues to deliver world class events for the city.

LLDC was established to build on the success of the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games and drive forward regeneration, growth and investment in east London – a key pledge when the bid was won. Now, 12 years on, the Park and venues are top UK destinations for visitors and business and used by the community 365 days a year. More than 1,200 homes have been built on LLDC development sites, with 4,500 more to be delivered over the coming years.

The new leadership team will deliver the next stage of legacy.  This includes driving growth and inward investment, overseeing the world-class venues and parkland and the long-term estate and commercial management of Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. This will realise the ongoing delivery of legacy and inclusive economy aims and drive the delivery of the remaining high quality residential developments.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “London 2012 is seen around the world as a blueprint for how to deliver regeneration and drive investment that benefits local residents. Getting the leadership right is vital and I am delighted that Suki and Shazia will build on the work of Lyn Garner and Lord Peter Hendy. 

"Great progress has been made in making the venue more sustainable - both financially with events like Major League Baseball and new commercial deals, and environmentally with the project to install solar panels. It’s fantastic that Lyn will take on the role of Chair in the new governance structure for London Stadium, as we continue to build a better London for everyone. Lyn’s experience and expertise will be essential in the continued progress of London Stadium which, through the events it hosts, delivers jobs and hundreds of millions of pounds in spend and investment to the capital’s economy.”

Lyn Garner, outgoing chief executive of LLDC and incoming Chair of E20 Stadium LLP, said: “I am extremely proud to have been part of not just the greatest Games regeneration but what I consider to be a project that can’t be matched anywhere in the world. Just 20 years on from winning the bid this is now an area creating jobs and investment with community at its heart.

“As we complete the landmark East Bank construction project and hand back planning powers to our local boroughs, now feels like the right time to pass the baton to a new leadership with renewed focus. I hope that Suki and Shazia get as much pride and satisfaction out of being part of this incredible place as I have. I am delighted to still be involved with London Stadium and am looking forward to continuing my work with Graham, his excellent team and the venue’s stakeholders.”

Suki said: “As someone who went to school in a previous London Olympic Games village and having lived, been educated or having a work base in London most of my life, I am delighted to take on this role and help the LLDC team build on the incredible success achieved so far. I join everyone in thanking Lord Peter Hendy and Lyn Garner for their work in this. As the organisation moves to a different phase I look forward to listening and engaging with a broad range of stakeholders to support them and the Mayor to further realise the ambitions for Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.”

Shazia said: “I am thrilled to have been appointed Chief Executive. This part of London holds a special connection for me, having spent much of my professional career serving the brilliant and diverse communities who live here. Leading LLDC into the next phase of its journey is a privilege. My focus will be to build on the fantastic legacy already in place, ensuring that growth and development are inclusive, and investment provides east Londoners with the opportunities they need to succeed. I’m looking forward to working with the four east London boroughs, the GLA, and all our partners and communities who live, work and visit Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.”

ENDS

Notes: Before the Mayor can appoint a Chair for LLDC, under the GLA Act he is required to formally notify the London Assembly of his proposed candidate in order that they can provide him with their non-binding recommendation on whether he should proceed with the appointment. This process will take place in the next few weeks.