Bradford & District Training & Enterprise Council is to review how it operates after the sudden departure of business director Paul Mitchell.

Mr Mitchell, 45, left the TEC's Mercury House headquarters in Manchester Road, Bradford, to "pursue other interests".

He started at the TEC less than a year ago and was known in the city as an innovator. He was previously director of strategic planning and marketing at the City and Inner London North TEC.

New chief executive David Wilkinson, who was appointed after Mr Mitchell last year, would not be drawn on why Mr Mitchell had left suddenly.

He said today: "Parting has been amicable and we wish him well.

"As part of the continuing development of the TEC, we will be reviewing how we shape ourselves in the future to make sure we add the maximum value to Bradford."

The TEC is known in Bradford for failing to keep top-level people for long. Last February former chief executive Bob Clark left suddenly to "pursue other interests" after being in the job for less than two years.

The TEC, which is funded to the tune of £15 million a year from the Government, has yet to keep a chief executive for more than two years.

Mr Mitchell was a key player behind bringing in the Local Futures Group, based in Henley, to review the Bradford district's economy.

Mr Wilkinson added: "The review is something that we got going with Paul which was his area of responsibility. The results of the review will have serious implications for Bradford."

Mr Mitchell was one of four directors appointed by the TEC to take it into the next century. He was one of three outside appointments along with Geoff Hope-Terry, director of finance and Simon Bray, director of strategic marketing.

Former deputy chief executive Mike Lowe, who has been with the TEC since it started six years ago, was appointed the TEC's head of training and development.

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