Karim Hassan MBE

Karime Hassan, was awarded an MBE for services to local government in 2022. A town planner by profession, with more than 40 years’ experience working for local authorities. Between 2013 and 2023, he held the post of chief executive and growth director at Exeter City Council.

A graduate of Nottingham Trent and the University of Loughborough, Karime worked for Derby, Nottingham and Newport city councils before moving to Devon in 1999. As head of planning services for Exeter City Council, he played a significant role in the delivery of strategic development projects, such as The Met Office relocation to Exeter, and the redevelopment of the Princesshay quarter of the city centre.

As corporate director for East Devon District Council, he led the planning and delivery of the Exeter and East Devon Growth point, overseeing delivery of major projects such as Exeter Science Park, Skypark and Cranbrook new community, and helping in the process to make Exeter one of the fastest growing cities in the UK.

His executive leadership of Exeter City Council, and his support for partnership working, led to collaboration between the city’s major institutions and the setting up of the Liveable Exeter Place Board and wellbeing programmes including the Sport England local delivery pilot.

Karime is an independent member of the Council of the University of Exeter. In July 2019, the University awarded him an honorary doctorate for his work supporting health and wellbeing in the city.

Karime is a non-executive director of Exeter Rugby Club, and in 2015 served as a member of the RFU Rugby World Cup Legacy Board. Karime is a trustee of the Exeter City Community Trust and sits on the Cambridge University Library Services Advisory Board.

He is a fellow at the Centre for Leadership at the University of Exeter Business School.