Waltham Forest LBC has lost its second chief executive in three years, after Jacquie Dean announced this week she had quit for ‘personal and family’ reasons.
The former boss of both Manchester and Birmingham city councils, Roger Taylor, has been appointed as interim chief executive, with immediate effect.
‘Being chief executive of a major council such as Waltham Forest, and making a contribution to its development, is one of the best and most satisfying jobs in the world.
‘I am as delighted as I am privileged to have the opportunity to work with the committed members and officers of Waltham Forest,’ he said.
Ms Dean joined Waltham Forest in November 2003 as deputy chief executive from the Audit Commission, where she was an associate director.
She became interim chief executive at the London borough in April 2004, when she replaced Simon White, who left by ‘mutual consent’, after the council failed to upgrade its CPA rating from ‘poor’.
Ms Dean took the council from a poor to a ‘weak’ CPA rating by the end of 2004, and she was appointed chief executive in February 2005.
The council now has a one-star CPA rating and is ‘improving well’. ‘Waltham Forest has come a long way in the last four years,’ said council leader, Clyde Loakes.
‘I would like to thank Jacquie for her contribution and commitment to this sustained improvement.
‘I know all Waltham Forest’s councillors and staff will join me in wishing her all the best for the future.’
‘Mr Taylor is a top-notch chief executive and we’ve been lucky to secure his services,’ he added.
‘I’m very confident that the borough will continue to thrive and improve under his stewardship.’
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