Brent Council has appointed a new chief executive after its current boss announced her retirement.
Subject to ratification by the council on January 23, Kim Wright will replace Carolyn Downs, who announced her decision to retire in April.
Ms Wright, who is set to start in May, said she is “delighted and excited” to be recommended for the position and called Brent “one of the UK’s most diverse boroughs”.
She added: “I am really looking forward to working closely with colleagues, members, partners, and residents to do everything we can to create a fairer and more equal borough.”
READ MORE: Brent Council chief executive to step down
An experienced leader, Ms Wright has held the position of chief executive at Lewisham Council since October 2019, where she led its response to the pandemic. Prior to this, she also had a number of director roles at Hackney Council, and before that she worked at Barnet Council and Spelthorne Borough Council.
Ms Wright also holds a number of pan London roles – as chair of the London Recovery Board’s tackling structural inequalities sub group; as co-chair of the London local government Tackling Racial Inequality Group; and as deputy chair of London’s Local Resilience Forum, representing all 33 local authorities.
Brent Council leader Cllr Muhammed Butt said: “Kim is an outstanding chief executive with a fantastic range of abilities and skills that are just right for Brent.
"We have made lots of progress in Brent over recent years, despite the tough circumstances we have faced. I am keen to welcome Kim to Brent and continue that journey as we seek to build a better Brent and leave no one behind.”
Set using the nationally recognised Hay reward scheme, which is used by the majority of local councils around the country, Brent Council’s chief executive receives an annual salary of £202,880.
Ms Wright added: “I’d also like to say what an honour it is to take over from Carolyn Downs, who has been one of the most respected public sector chief executives in the country for decades.
"Carolyn has been an inspiration to so many people, including many women due to the glass ceilings she has broken, and I am determined to build on the impressive legacy she leaves.”
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