Derbyshire County Council appoints Managing Director

Derbyshire County Council has announced the appointment of Emma Alexander, current interim Managing Executive Director and Executive Director for Commissioning, Communities & Policy, as its permanent Managing Director.

Councillors will be asked to approve the appointment at the Full Council meeting on 1st December, with the agenda and papers which have been released online.  If approved, Ms Alexander would formally take up the post from 6th December 2021.

An independent external review into the effectiveness of the previous temporary Managing Executive Director operating model concluded that a leadership structure with a permanent Managing Director will best enable the council to meet the challenges ahead and that the authority 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.

Councillor Barry Lewis, Leader of Derbyshire County Council, welcomed the appointment.  He 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.”

Ms Alexander joined Derbyshire County Council as Executive Director for Commissioning, Communities and Policy and became interim Managing Executive Director in January 2021. She had previously worked as a Business Services Director for the Kier Group, a Managing director for the Unity Partnership and as a Corporate and Executive Director at a number of Midlands and North West councils.