THE new chief executive of the Tees Valley Urban Regeneration Company has set himself world class targets.

Glaswegian Joe Docherty, 32, has been chosen as the man to lead the regeneration of the Tees Valley over the next decade.

His main aim will be to bring in about £1bn of investment into the area, transforming the economy and turning the Tees Valley into an attractive place to live, work and invest.

Among his priorities will be attracting investment for flagship development projects and improving the transport infrastructure of the area.

He said: "I want to turn the Tees Valley URC into one of the most admired regeneration organisations in the world."

Mr Docherty, who is currently director of the urban and regional economic development unit at Barclays Bank, will take up his post in mid-July .

He has held a variety of posts, starting his career in local government, before working for Barclays in the North-East.

During his last spell in the region he was involved as a special policy advisor with the Northern Development Company (NDC), the forerunner of development agency One NorthEast. He was responsible for putting together the plans which led to the establishment of One NorthEast.

In his current role, he has dealt with regional development agencies, English Partnerships, the European Investment Bank and other major private sector investment bodies.

Mr Docherty said: "I am delighted to have the chance to play a part in the exciting and challenging opportunity created by the Tees Valley URC.

"I am passionately committed to economic and physical regeneration, to tackling social exclusion and to bringing investment, opportunity and above all, jobs, into the area.

"I know from my previous time in the North-East the scale of the challenges we face and I hope to use my experience and contacts on many different levels to help promote the Tees Valley message to national and international institutions we need to support the rebuilding of our economy and environment."

Peter Middleton, chairman of the URC, which will be based initially on the Belasis Business Park, in Billingham, said: "I believe Joe's appointment is a vital element in the very strong team we are developing to take forward the work of the URC.

"He's just the kind of person we need to demonstrate to decision-makers that the Tees Valley has a great future."

Mr Docherty's appointment was welcomed by Alistair Arkley, chairman of the Tees Valley Partnership.

He said: "The URC will play an important role in helping to deliver our hopes for the future.

"While having considerable experience of the North-East, Joe Docherty also understands the importance of the private and public sectors working together to achieve the kind of vibrant and diversified economy needed to provide that better future that we all want to create."