Two new Chief Officers confirmed by Wrexham Council

Wrexham Council has a new Chief Officer Economy and Planning and a familiar face as the ‘new’ Chief Officer Governance and Customer. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

As we reported earlier this month interview panels had been convened, with the outcomes now formally announced. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Ian Bancroft, Chief Executive, Wrexham Council: “Over the last fortnight the Council has completed two Chief Officer recruitment processes and is delighted to make the following announcements. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“David Fitzsimon has been appointed to the post of Chief Officer Economy and Planning and will take up his post on Monday 8th August. David has a wealth of experience in the areas of Economy and Planning including having been previously the Head of Corporate Transformation and Head of Planning at Pembrokeshire County Council. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“He also works as a Consultant Planning Inspector for the Planning Inspectorate. On his appointment David said ‘ It is such an exciting time to be joining Wrexham Council and I am really looking forward to working hard with my new colleagues to drive and deliver the economic ambitions of the County.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The second appointment will be a familiar name to council followers, and took up her new full Chief Officer Governance and Customer post formally this week, previously ‘acting’ as that role. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Linda Roberts has been with the Council for a number of years progressing her career through legal and democratic services. Previously she has been Head of Service Legal, Democratic and Registration and has for over 6 months been the Acting Chief Officer Governance and Customer. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“As Chief Executive I am delighted to announce these two strong appointments that will complement the current Senior Leadership team and take our leadership work forward collectively on behalf of the whole Council, as well as enabling these two service areas to continue to improve and develop. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The two new announcements also came with a third note, with the relatively new Head of Service in Planning Shawn Fleet leaving Wrexham Council “to ensure he can get a better work and life balance”. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Chief Exec Ian Bancroft said, “As we know many people during the covid 19 pandemic have re-evaluated their priorities. We wish him all the best for the future and thank him for his work in taking the Planning Service forward.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​