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Oldham Council appoints new management team
Oldham Council has appointed a new management team to help strengthen its managerial leadership and improve services.
Veronica Jackson, Oldham’s current Executive Director for Adult and Community Services, will take up the new post of Executive Director responsible for People, Communities & Society.
Elaine McLean will be the Executive Director responsible for the new Economy, Places & Skills portfolio. She joins Oldham from Stockport Council where she is Corporate Director for the Environment and Economy.
The new Executive Director for Performance, Capacity and Services will be Emma Alexander, the current Corporate Director for Customer and Corporate Services at Trafford Council.
Carolyn Wilkins has been appointed to the new post of Assistant Chief Executive and will be responsible for Corporate Policy, External Partnerships, Communications and Marketing. She joins from Rossendale District Council where she has been Chief Executive for the past two-and-a-half years.
All are expected to be in post by 1 April 2009.
The three new portfolios will replace the five existing directorates of Strategy and Resources, Environmental Services, Regeneration, Adult and Community Services, and Children, Young People and Families.
Changes to the council’s senior management structure and the creation of the new portfolios are aimed at making sure that the council’s priorities better reflect those of citizens, businesses and other organisations in Oldham and ensuring that they work more closely together to deliver better customer-focused services and value for money.
Council Leader Councillor Howard Sykes said: “I thank our five existing executive directors for the contribution they have made to the work of the council. We are now entering an exciting new era and I am delighted with the calibre of people we have been able to attract to join us.
“Our new team is committed to working with the chief executive and council leadership to driving through real improvements and to delivering for the people who really matter – Oldham’s citizens.”
Chief Executive Charlie Parker said: “We have an ambitious programme to make sure Oldham Council is up there with the best local authorities in the country.
“The new slimmed-down structure, based on themes rather than services, will make our organisation more relevant to our customers by better reflecting the areas that residents, businesses and others in Oldham have told us are important to them.
“The new management team will enable us to build on our existing strengths, provide stronger, more coherent leadership and really focus our minds on delivering better services targeted to the needs of our customers. This in turn will help to make Oldham an even more attractive place to live, work and bring up a family.”
Oldham’s Main Opposition Group Leader Councillor Jim McMahon said: “Oldham Council needs to improve and, whilst we have many achievements we can be proud of, there is still much work to do. These new appointments will help us to bring about the step change we need and help put us in the top tier of local authorities, failure cannot be an option.”
Minority Opposition Group Leader Councillor Jack Hulme said: “I welcome these new appointments and look forward to working with the new leadership team to improve Oldham Council. We are committed to improving our services to all our citizens.”
Executive Director responsible for People, Communities and Society
Veronica Jackson is currently Executive Director of Adult & Community Services at Oldham Council, a post she has held for over two years. She was previously Executive Director of Social Services at Oldham Council. Prior to that she held two senior director posts at Liverpool City Council.
Executive Director for Performance, Capacity and Services
Emma Alexander has been Corporate Director, Customer and Corporate Services, at Trafford Council, for the past two years. Prior to that she held senior posts at Macclesfield Borough Council and Leicester City Council.
Elaine McLean joins Oldham from Stockport Council, where she has been Corporate Director for Environment and Economy for six years. Previously she has been Assistant Executive Director, Regeneration, at Liverpool City Council, and has strong experience of partnership and community regeneration at both Liverpool and Trafford councils.
Carolyn Wilkins comes to Oldham from Rossendale District Council, where she has been Chief Executive for the past two and a half years. Previously she has been Director of ELEVATE, the Housing Market Renewal Company for East Lancashire, and a Governor of Accrington & Rossendale College. She was also Assistant Chief Executive at Bury Council.
