Andrew Roughan, the former COO of Here East, has been appointed as the new managing director of the innovation centre Plexal. Roughan, who played a pivotal role in regenerating the London Olympics Broadcast and Media Centre, will take on full responsibility for Plexal immediately.
Plexal operates as a flexible workspace and innovation consultancy, dedicated to merging ideas, people, and technology to address significant challenges in various industries and society. It is central to Here East’s vision of promoting collaboration among innovative and creative businesses of all sizes and sectors.
Within his new role at Plexal, Roughan will also oversee the London Office for Rapid Cyber Security Advancement (LORCA), which was recently established with £13.5 million in funding from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in collaboration with Deloitte and CSIT. LORCA aims to unify the UK’s cyber security community and position London and the UK as global leaders in this field.
Additionally, Plexal’s innovation team places a strong emphasis on mobility, uniting enterprises, technology service providers, start-ups, SMEs, public bodies, regulators, charities, students, and funders to tackle major mobility challenges.
Before his tenure at Here East, Roughan had accumulated significant experience as a business leader across various sectors. His previous roles included commercial director for data centre business Infinity SDC and general manager for Cable & Wireless. Here East itself has solidified its status as a creative business cluster with the opening of The Trampery on the Gantry, 21 cutting-edge studios for creatives, and the announcement of the V&A Collection and Research Centre’s arrival. Home to institutions like Loughborough University London and UCL, and companies such as Sega’s Sports Interactive, BT Sport, and Ford, Here East has significantly contributed to the Stratford area’s employment, bringing over 3,500 jobs since its establishment in 2016.
Roughan expressed his enthusiasm for his new role, stating that ‘Plexal has become one of the most important innovation centres in London, supporting a diverse range of large, small and start-up companies across a number of high potential sectors and technology products.’ He looks forward to collaborating with Plexal’s members and the broader Here East campus to drive international progress.
Paul Goswell, managing director of Delancey, commented on the appointment, saying, ‘Plexal sits at the heart of Here East’s vision to create a community that unites companies of all sizes with a belief in innovation, collaboration and success.’ He further emphasised the rapid growth of tech and innovative businesses in London, describing it as a significant success story of urban regeneration.
Andrew Roughan’s appointment as managing director of Plexal marks a significant step forward for the innovation centre, positioning it to further its mission of fostering collaboration and addressing critical technological and societal challenges.