Interim chief executive appointed at city council
An interim chief executive has been appointed at Bristol City Council.
Paul Martin has assumed the role of Interim chief executive following a meeting on Monday 3 June 2024.
Stephen Peacock, the former chief executive, is leaving the council for a new role as the head of the West of England Combined Authority. He had been in the job at the council for just under two years.
Councillors also approved that Paul take up the role of head of paid service, a statutory role that assumes responsibility to ensure that all the authority’s functions are properly co-ordinated as well as organising staff and appointing appropriate management.
Paul’s appointment follows a recruitment process which included receiving the recommendation of a selection committee made up of elected members from all political parties and senior officers.
Councillors unanimously accepted the recommendation of the selection committee and approved the appointment to begin with effect from 10 June 2024.
Tony Dyer, Leader of Bristol City Council, said: “I’m delighted to welcome Paul to the council and look forward to working with him to ensure the authority is delivering the services people want and need. Paul’s CV is an impressive demonstration of his vast experience of leadership roles across the public sector, and he joins us as one of the most experienced local government leaders in the UK.
“I am grateful for the past five years of service given by Stephen, our outgoing chief executive and look forward to continuing our working relationship as he joins the West of England Combined Authority. I know that with Paul joining us in the coming days we can look forward to building on the positive joint working across the region to deliver for residents, businesses and communities across the West of England.”
Paul said: “I wish to thank councillors for their approval and everyone else who has taken part in the recruitment process. I’m looking forward to the opportunity to work alongside councillors, officers, partners and residents, to help the council deliver its goals. During this important transition period for the council, I aim to work with all parts of the authority and the city, in delivering sustainable economic growth whilst continuing to provide support for those who need it most. Coming from a background of over 25 years of public service, I recognise the roles councils play and will do my upmost to ensure Bristol City Council has the tools to meet our aspirations.”
Previous roles held by Paul include chief executive positions at Ealing and Sutton London Borough Council, as well as the chief executive role at London Borough Councils at Wandsworth and Richmond on Thames.
These latter appointments saw Paul oversee the Battersea and Nine Elms regeneration, the largest of its kind in Europe at the time, which included the Battersea Power Station site, New Covent Garden Market, the new US Embassy and the construction of the Northern Line underground transport extension.
