REGIONAL development agency One NorthEast is looking for a new director of delivery after John Litherland resigned from the post.

The 52-year-old has returned to his former role as executive director of the Northumberland Strategic Partnership.

The move took the region's business community by surprise, as he resigned less than four months after starting the job.

Mr Litherland and his former boss, One NorthEast chief executive Alan Clarke, said the move was an amicable decision.

Mr Clarke said: "He has left for personal reasons. He has gone back to his previous job as executive director of Northumberland Strategic Partnership.

"We parted on good terms and we will certainly be able to work with him in that position."

Mr Litherland said: "The decision for me to leave One NorthEast and come back to NSP was much more about me than it was about One NorthEast.

"In future, I will be working incredibly closely with One NorthEast and we left under the best possible terms. This was a personal decision."

NSP tried to fill the executive directorship after Mr Litherland's departure but was unsuccessful.

One NorthEast has employed Newcastle recruitment company NRG to find a new director of delivery.

It will advertise in the North-East, North-West and Yorkshire, as well as in the national industry magazine Regeneration and Renewal.

Mr Clarke said he hoped to recruit a replacement before the end of next month.

In the meantime, Kate McNaught and Ed Rowley will carry out the director's role.

Mr Litherland was the first executive director of NSP and oversaw major projects including the Alnwick Garden and the Blyth Estuary.