Neil Rami, chief executive of Marketing Birmingham, joined from Newcastle Gateshead Initiative where "he helped transform the image of the North-east from an industrial wasteland to a dynamic centre of urban renewal".
His priorities for Birmingham include asserting a presence in London, developing national and local campaigns projecting a new image for the city, and linking strategies with the NEC Group and the city council.
These he has generally delivered on - Birmingham now has an office in London and campaigns include Taste of Birmingham, promoting the city's food offering.
When he arrived, the loquacious Mr Rami said: "The role of chief executive is quite simply, the biggest job in city marketing in this country. I am thrilled and excited to be given the opportunity to help Birmingham realise its potential. It is a big city with big ambitions and we need to make sure that it is punching its weight on the national, European and world stages."
He set himself the target of Birmingham becomingn the festival and events capital of Britain within the next five years.
He said: "I would like to think that by 2010 Birmingham will have become a place that people from all over the world will want to be in and be associated with."
But critics say his aims have been too limited and he has not done enough to push brand Birmingham - largely left to council leader Mike Whitby to tell the wider world that the city exists.
