WOKINGHAM BOROUGH councillors are expected to approve the appointment of a new chief executive officer at an extraordinary meeting on Friday night.
The Council has announced that its chief executive, Susan Parsonage, has been appointed to the role, subject to councillors’ vote in favour, and is expected to start in March next year.
She has been in her previous role, at Lancaster City Council, since July 2016.
Lancaster City Council said that during her three-year spell, she led “a number of transformative projects … from helping improve frontline services in the face of austerity, to launching the largest place marketing initiative the district has ever seen”.
This includes a multi-million pound Canal Quarter project and the planned creation of the UK’s second Eden Project in Morecambe.
Ms Parsonage added: “I am really delighted to have been appointed to this role. Wokingham Borough Council has already achieved a great deal in terms of transformation and at the same time is very ambitious for the borough and its communities. I look forward to working with the staff and councillors to deliver on those ambitions for the future.”
Wokingham Borough Council is equally pleased to welcome its new Chief Executive.
Chair of the Personnel Board, Cllr Alistair Auty, said: “Susan joins us following a very successful tenure as Chief Executive at another authority. Her commercial, strategic vision and leadership skills, shone through during the interview process and Susan has the experience and attributes needed to drive Wokingham Borough Council forward at this challenging yet opportunity rich time.
“We are an ambitious authority, our residents expect and deserve excellent services and the staff of the council merit supportive and inspirational leadership”.
“It’s a tough yet rewarding job but Susan is an exceptional candidate and we look forward to her joining the council early next year.”
And Lancaster’s council leader, Cllr Eileen Blamire, praised Ms Parsonage’s tremendous enthusiasm and ability to had introduced a fresh style of management which had reinvigorated and inspired staff and residents alike.
Cllr Blamire added: “We wish her all the best for her next role, and every success for the future.”
Ms Parsonage will be the full-time successor to Andy Couldrick, who left last year to become chief executive to Birmingham Children’s Trust.
His interim successors have been Manjeet Gill, who left suddenly in October, and Heather Thwaites, who is current acting chief executive until Ms Parsonage takes up her position, assuming her appointment is approved this week.
