Derbyshire County Council have announced the appointment of Emma Alexander as the authority’s permanent Managing Director.
Councillors will be asked to approve the appointment at the authority’s full council meeting on 1 December.
If approved, Ms Alexander, Derbyshire County Council’s current interim Managing Executive Director and Executive Director for Commissioning, Communities and Policy, would formally take up the post from 6 December.
An independent external review into the effectiveness of the previous temporary Managing Executive Director operating model was carried out recently.
It concluded that a leadership structure with a permanent Managing Director will best enable the council to meet the challenges ahead, whilst also finding that that the organisation needs to invest in its most senior level.
Ms Alexander will set clear strategic direction, drive performance and provide accountability to councillors and residents.
She will also lead on relationships with key partners locally, regionally and nationally, ensuring Derbyshire has influence at every level and that the county’s voice is heard.
Commenting, Leader of Derbyshire County Council, Councillor Barry Lewis said:
“Emma joined the council in 2017 with a strong track record in the public and commercial sectors and has provided outstanding leadership and drive to the organisation over the last four years.
“I am delighted that she will be working alongside me in the role of Managing Director.
“Emma was selected after a rigorous competitive recruitment process against a high calibre field and I know she will continue to have the core values of improving people’s lives and partnership work at the centre of her approach.
“The changing world of local government, which includes leading the post-pandemic economic and social recovery, the integration of health and social care, driving forward Vision Derbyshire to develop a collaborative working model across all local authorities and harnessing the opportunities that levelling up presents, means this role is essential in enabling us to adapt and respond at every level across the organisation.
“This approach demonstrates our responsiveness as a council, our ability to change and adapt to a new landscape and our determination to do what is right for Derbyshire people, our partner organisations and our communities.”
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