THE body promoting Bournemouth’s coastal suburbs has a new boss.

Stefan Krause is moving along the south coast from Plymouth to manage the Bournemouth Coastal Business Improvement District (BID).

He recently led the Plymouth BID through a successful ‘renewal’ ballot, which saw 70 per cent of businesses vote in favour of extending the project for a third five-year term.

Mr Krause will join the coastal BID on May 5 for a handover period before the retirement of current manager Alun Williams.

Paul Clarke, chairman of the Coastal BID said: "The interview panel was very impressed by Stefan's experience in both business improvement districts and town centre management.

“He led a successful campaign for the first Scottish BID in Inverness and has just helped businesses in Plymouth to take their BID into a third term. With the Coastal BID looking to renew here in 2016/17, we felt he was the ideal candidate."

Mr Krause added: "I will be sad to leave Plymouth. I was brought in on a fixed term contract and feel that I have brought this to a very successful conclusion. I was really taken with Bournemouth when I came for my interview.

“The town felt vibrant and the board seemed to have a real grasp of what BIDs are all about. I am looking forward to moving to Bournemouth to take up this new role."

Before managing the Plymouth BID, he was town centre manager in Skegness, where he helped set up the East Lincolnshire Destination Management Organisation and attracted a number of externally match-funded projects.