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Two combined authorities reveal new CEOs at cost of £300,000

The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority have confirmed the appointments of their CEOs this week, with the pair’s combined salaries costing the authorities £300,000 overall.

Martin Whiteley was confirmed for the £150,000 position by Cambridgeshire mayor James palmer at a board meeting held at East Cambridgeshire District Council.

Whiteley has been the interim CEO of the combined authority since it was created in March. Previously, he was the chief executive of the Blue Marble Group and managing director of Capita Consulting, the management consultancy arm of the Capita Group.

Mayor Palmer said he was very much looking forward to working alongside Whiteley and ensuring that the region’s £800m devolution deal delivers on key targets for local people.

“He is a highly experienced individual and will bring valuable skills to the combined authority as we work to bring real change to the region and bring further powers to the area from Westminster,” said the mayor.

In the West Midlands, Deborah Cadman OBE, who is currently the CEO at Suffolk County Council, was named the chief executive at the WMCA; a position that had been advertised with a salary ranging between £160,000-£180,000.

Born and bred in Birmingham, Cadman has held a number of senior roles in her career, including chief executive of the East of England Development Agency and chief executive at St. Edmundsbury Borough Council in Suffolk.

“I am delighted to have been offered the post of chief executive at the WMCA,” Cadman said. “This is such a fabulous moment in time for the West Midlands and is an irresistible opportunity to work alongside our newly-elected mayor and bring greater prosperity to a region I know so well.

“I will be taking the reins over from Martin Reeves, who has been amazing as interim chief executive whilst maintaining the same post at Coventry City Council. Martin is an incredibly hard act to follow and I am indebted to him for all his visionary work to date.”

Her appointment comes the same week that the mayor of West Midlands unveiled his senior leadership team. Andy Street added that he was thrilled Cadman had joined the combined authority to deliver the region’s £1bn devo deal.

“She will bring a great energy to the role as well as a natural enthusiasm for the region,” said Street. “She also has a strong track record in developing and maintaining relationships with a range of partners and stakeholders.

“This will be essential as we keep momentum going with central government to bring further powers and responsibilities from Westminster to the West Midlands.”

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