Nicola Yates OBE has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of Future Cities Catapult. Yates will begin her role on the 22nd May 2017. Future Cities Catapult is a company that works to expand companies in order to improve cities. The company aims to allow other businesses, universities and city leaders the opportunity to work together to find solutions for their cities now and in the future. Future Cities Catapult has an Urban Innovation Centre in London where they offer their world class facilities and expertise in order to offer support in order for new products and services to be developed. The facility also offers an environment for collaboration and space to test different ideas and improve on business model plans. Nicola Yates  has worked within the sector of urban regeneration over the past 10 years. Nicola Yates has been known as a leading thinker and practitioner in her previous roles. Nicola has also held the position of CEO before her appointment at Future Cities Catapult. Those previous positions of CEO were at Bristol City and Hull City Councils as well as North Shropshire District Council. Nicola Yates has been part of the successful Bristol Is Open campaign that took place in 2014 in which she worked with Nokia, NEC and Interdigital Ltd. Hopefully Nicola will be equally as successful in her new position. Also during Nicola’s time in her position at Bristol City Council the city was awarded with the European Green Capital 2015 by the European Commission. The UK City Index also named Bristol the leading smart city outside London during Nicola’s time there as well as being nominated by the Sunday Times as the ‘Best Place to Live’ in England in 2016. Future Cities is recognised around the world as a centre for urban innovation excellence. The current CEO, Peter Madden OBE will be on hand to support Nicola Yates as she transitions in tot the role, and will also stay on hand for 12 months in a part time ambassador role in order to allow for continuity during the change.