A senior public servant with a background in community development, race equality and leading outstanding council services is set to be appointed as Hackney Council’s new Chief Executive following a competitive recruitment process.
Mark Carroll, currently Executive Director for Place and Public Health at Essex County Council, will take on the new role later this year, subject to approval at Hackney’s full council meeting on 21 July.
During his time in Essex, Mr Carroll has led the council’s public health response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the county’s inclusive economic recovery.
As well as this, he has co-designed strategies to tackle the climate emergency, build affordable housing and invest in sustainable travel with residents.
Mr Carroll started his career as a probation officer and led a charity working with young people and their families to co-produce community responses to crime, drug and gang issues.
Commenting, Mayor of Hackney, Philip Glanville said:
“I’m absolutely delighted that Mark will be joining us later this year, after a comprehensive recruitment process which involved staff, residents and organisations from across Hackney.
“His passion, skills and commitment to local government made him stand out from an extremely talented set of internal and external candidates.
“Mark’s career and achievements in local and national government speak for themselves and are shaped by a strong public service ethos and a tireless ambition for what local councils like Hackney can achieve.
“This is important as we continue to invest in and support our incredible staff, as well as the work to maintain the high quality services our residents, communities and businesses expect.
“I’m excited he will be joining us at a crucial time to help lead efforts to recover from Covid and the serious cyber-attack we suffered last year that continues to affect our services. We’re all determined to rebuild a better Hackney after the difficult last 18 months.
“I believe being Chief Executive of Hackney Council is the best job in local government and I look forward to working with Mark, my elected colleagues, our staff and our partners to deliver on local people’s priorities over the coming years.”
Mr Carroll replaces former Chief Executive, Tim Shields, who retired in May after 13 years in the role.
Before joining Essex County Council, Mr Carroll held a variety of senior positions in central government over 12 years.
This included delivering the first ever cross-government strategy on race equality after the Stephen Lawrence Inquiry and leading the government’s work with the third sector.
Commenting, Mr Carroll said:
“It would have taken an exceptional job for me to leave Essex, where I’m proud of the teams we have built and our achievements, but leading Hackney is that job.
“I’m very excited to be joining a borough that already has such great services and great people who are so proud of what they do.
“Our residents depend on us to deliver every day and I look forward to meeting staff and residents to learn about how we can continue to meet their expectations in a difficult financial climate.
“I am going to meet as many people as I can over the next few months, so I really start to really understand their hopes, aspirations and experiences.
“I share a passion for economic and social justice and will ensure the council’s focus is on being relentless in supporting disadvantaged residents and communities to achieve their potential.”
