Simon Plumb (left)
Donna Lawrie (right)
Simon Plumb, Centre Director of Atria Watford, and Donna Lawrie, Head of Marketing, Communications, Fundraising, Corporate Partnerships and Community Engagement at One YMCA, have been formally appointed as chair and vice chair of Watford BID Ltd, respectively.
Watford BID Ltd, known as Watford Town Centre Business Improvement District (BID) to its levy paying businesses, has a board of directors consisting of individuals who represent key stakeholders and industries within the BID area. In November 2024, the board of directors were unanimous in their decision to appoint Simon and Donna into their new roles.
Simon has over 20 years of experience in the retail property management sector and has worked with some of the largest property management companies in the world. Starting at grassroots, Simon has managed shopping centres across the Southeast including Harlow, Wimbledon and Romford as well as supporting many others in central and portfolio roles. He has extensive experience working with BIDs throughout his career and has been a board member of Watford Town Centre BID since October 2022.
Simon Plumb said: “I am honoured to take on the role of Chair at such an exciting and pivotal time for Watford Town Centre BID. The team have done an incredible job restructuring the business following the significant drop in levy income and ensuring that we continue to meet the needs of our members. So, with a solid and successful base to work from, I am looking forward to leading the board through the final phase of this term and into the next!”
Donna would admit that she spends most of her working time talking. As Head of Marketing, Communications, Fundraising, Corporate Partnerships and Community Engagement at local charity One YMCA, she has a strong but caring leadership style with which she heads up a dynamic team and is frequently engaged in business networking and community outreach. Donna has also been a board member of Watford Town Centre BID since October 2022.
Donna Lawrie said: “I am delighted to have been appointed as Vice-Chair of Watford Town Centre BID. My passion for the BID stems from my dedication for strong partnerships and promoting positive impact within the local community. As Vice Chair, I will aim to support Watford Town Centre BID through its current and future term, to boost the success of Watford’s business and leisure community.”
The new appointments made by the board of directors came as a result of former BID Chair, Kwame Tefe, being content to step down from his role and allow a new face to lead the BID board. Kwame, manager of The Moon Under Water pub, successfully led the BID for the past two and a half years and has shown his commitment to Watford Town Centre by remaining on the board of directors.
Kwame Tefe said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed and fully embraced my time as Chair of Watford Town Centre BID’s board of directors. In my time as BID Chair, I have overseen plenty of exciting, dynamic changes to the organisation which has culminated in a prosperous rebrand; the new Watford Town Centre brand has opened exciting possibilities for our town and its businesses going forward.
We have delivered an abundance of projects and campaigns during my tenure, and all decisions have been made with the interests of our town’s businesses at the forefront. I am delighted that I will remain a part of the board of directors and we have full confidence in Simon and Donna to continue the fantastic progress that we have made as an organisation.”
To find out more about Watford Town Centre BID and the services provided by the BID team, visit www.watfordtowncentre.com and refer to the ‘For BID Businesses’ tab for pertinent information relevant to levy paying businesses.