Deborah Green has announced that she will step down as chief executive of Marketing Leeds in October.

In a statement about this, Green said: “In recent weeks I have been in discussion with the Board of Marketing Leeds and Leeds City Council regarding a role as the new Chief Executive of the city’s combined marketing, inward investment and tourism body.

“Whilst I am pleased to have had the opportunity to consider this, I have taken the decision to step down as Chief Executive of Marketing Leeds.

“This has been a difficult decision and one not taken lightly. However, in order to end speculation and to allow a fresh recruitment process to commence, I feel it is important to announce this decision.”

Green said that she was asked to stay on until October in order to ‘facilitate effective delivery of current initiatives’.

Tom Riordan, chief executive of Leeds City Council, said: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank Deborah for over four years of commitment to Marketing Leeds. In that time, with enthusiasm and great professionalism, she has delivered a wide range of projects and initiatives that have given the city an improved profile nationally and internationally, which has in turn delivered increasing economic impact.”