Birmingham City Council has confirmed that it has appointed Joanne Roney CBE as its permanent Managing Director.
Starting the role in the Autumn, Joanne will return to the city where she began her career after seven years as Chief Executive of Manchester City Council.
Roney grew up in the Shard End area of Birmingham before joining the City Council as an apprentice at the age of 16. Her first Chief Executive role came at Wakefield Council before she moved across the Pennines to Manchester in 2017.
Speaking about her appointment, Leader of Birmingham City Council John Cotton said:
“Joanne was the standout candidate to steer the council through its current challenges and transform it into an organisation that delivers consistently good services for the people and communities of Birmingham.
"She's from Birmingham, knows and loves this city and is a committed public servant with a proven track record and a wealth of experience. I look forward to working with her as we strive to give the people of Birmingham, the council and the future they deserve."
Over the course of her time as Chief Executive of Manchester City Council, Joanne oversaw the transformation of many services, including Children’s Services. These had previously been classified as ‘inadequate’ by Ofsted in 2014, with them going on to receiving a ‘good’ rating in 2022. Joanne also served as Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s Lead Officer on Skills, Education and Work.
Joanne touched on her time in Manchester, as well as her return to Birmingham, saying:
“I’ve loved my time in Manchester. It’s a wonderful city and I’m proud of what – together with colleagues, partners and the city’s political leadership – we’ve been able to achieve here. Whoever follows me as Chief Executive is inheriting an incredible role alongside a talented and dedicated leadership team.
“I might be an adopted Mancunian, and proud of it, but I’m a native Brummie and this was the only role which could have tempted me away. I began my career as an apprentice at Birmingham City Council at the age of 16 so the prospect of concluding it there as Managing Director, and helping the place where I grew up and my family still live rise to its current challenges was a compelling one.”
Image credit: Stock and Birmingham City Council
