A LEADING Liverpool business man has stood down from the board of a key city regeneration agency.

Dougal Paver, managing director of city PR firm Paver Smith, has resigned his position at Liverpool Vision.

Mr Paver said he could no longer spare the time required to sit on the board of Vision due to family commitments and the need to concentrate on his own business.

His resignations follows “significant disquiet” within the city’s PR industry after his firm was awarded the £100,000 contract to promote Liverpool’s presence at the Shanghai World Expo 2010 which had been managed by Liverpool Vision.

Last night, Mr Paver and Liverpool Vision denied he had stood down over these concerns.

He has also resigned from the Liverpool branch of the Forum for the Built Environment, Liverpool Vision and the development committee of Tate Liverpool.

Mr Paver said his company grew by 48% in 2008, and plans to exceed that in 2009 and recently opened an office in Manchester.

He said: “Managing growth at this rate is very demanding and I’ve got to balance it with being a father and husband. Clearly, these two priorities have to come ahead of others and so I’ve taken the sensible decision to clear my diary a little.

“I remain as committed as ever to flag-waving for Liverpool, but the best contribution I can possibly make right now is by creating more well-paid jobs in the city.”

Richard Clein, associate director of Bell Pottinger North, said there had been significant disquiet in city PR firms when the contract for Shanghai 2010 was awarded to Paver Smith.