Council appoints interim CEO and finance boss

Stella Manzie

Birmingham City Council has made three temporary appointments to its top team as it re-organises its leadership in the wake of chief executive Mark Rogers’ departure.

Stella Manzie will become interim chief executive, subject to approval at a full council meeting on April 4. She was previously chief executive of Coventry City Council and Barking and Dagenham Council, and was until last year commissioner managing director of Rotherham Council.

Angela Probert will continue in her role as acting chief executive and head of paid service, until Ms Manzie’s appointment is ratified.

The city council’s finance team has also been strengthened, with Mike O’Donnell being seconded from his role as chief finance officer at Camden Council for three days a week.

He will be joined by Alan Gay, deputy chief executive at Leeds City Council and a member of the Birmingham Local Government Association-sponsored Independent Financial Review Team, who will provide support and strategic oversight in the short term.

The council said O’Donnell and Gay “will be joining the finance team to add extra capacity to deliver the challenging saving targets agreed at full council in February”.

Cllr John Clancy, the leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “With other changes to senior management now in place, it is clear Birmingham City Council has an exceptionally strong team of officers to take us forward on the next stage of our improvement journey.”

There have been other changes among the senior officers.

With effect from March 31, Peter Hay, currently strategic director of people – a role which has responsibilities for adult and children services – is to leave Birmingham City Council. Graeme Betts has been appointed as corporate director adults and health on an interim basis, for at least six months.

Waheed Nazir, currently acting strategic director economy has been appointed corporate director economy, while Jacqui Kennedy, currently acting strategic director place has been appointed corporate director place.

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