In a move that underscores its commitment to a strong leadership structure and future ambitions, Birmingham City Council has announced the permanent appointment of four key members to its corporate leadership team.
This step has been labelled as essential for the delivery of the council's Improvement and Recovery Plan.
Commenting on the new appointments, Council Leader Cllr John Cotton said:
“I’m really pleased to welcome Carol, Stuart and Richard to Birmingham. Following the appointment of Joanne Roney as the council’s Managing Director, we are continuing to enhance our governance and leadership capabilities with these appointments, which further strengthen our corporate leadership team and are crucial to delivering a well-run, modern and effective council for Birmingham’s residents.”
Rishi Shori
Rishi Shori, who previously served as Director of Intervention Response and acting Deputy Chief Executive at Birmingham City Council, has officially taken on the role of Deputy Chief Executive as of November last year. Shori brings a wealth of experience from his previous leadership roles at Bury Metropolitan Borough Council, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, and the Local Government Association. He will oversee the new Deputy Chief Executive Directorate, which includes strategy, policy, communications, and corporate performance, continuing to lead the council's response to current interventions.
Carol Culley
Carol Culley joins Birmingham City Council from Manchester City Council, where she held positions as City Treasurer, S151 Officer, and Deputy Chief Executive. Culley has also served as a government-appointed Commissioner, addressing significant national challenges in local government, and is currently a Commissioner at Woking Council. With extensive experience in financial management, governance, and assurance, Culley was awarded an OBE in 2020 for her services to local government.
Stuart Lackenby
Stuart Lackenby transitions from his role as Deputy Chief Executive and Executive Director of People Services at West Northamptonshire Council to join Birmingham City Council. With a career that began as a Support Worker and progressed through roles as a Social Worker and Learning Disability Nurse, Lackenby has overseen critical community support services, including adult social care, children's services, and public health.
Richard Lawrence
Richard Lawrence, formerly Director of Regeneration at the City of Wolverhampton Council, brings over 25 years of experience in regeneration within both the private and public sectors. Lawrence has led large-scale regeneration projects in the West Midlands and Combined Authority, focusing on housing, property, economic development, transport, conservation, and tourism to drive growth and improve the quality of life for residents.
Joanne Roney, Birmingham City Council’s Managing Director, added:
"It is important to Birmingham’s improvement journey to have a stable senior management team. I am delighted that the national recruitment process has brought the best to Birmingham to work alongside the existing senior team who have already made substantial progress to the improvement journey."
Image credit: iStock
