Council takes next steps in reviewing the way it is managed

Shropshire Council is progressing with the full review of its senior management team, and has today (Monday 19 November 2012) appointed an Operations Director. 

Clive Wright, who is currently the council’s area director for the central region, will take up the new role with immediate effect.  He will also take on the role of Head of Paid Service from David Taylor, who has been Interim Head of Paid Service since the council’s Chief Executive, Kim Ryley, left in July 2012. 

Council Leader, Keith Barrow, said he was delighted with Clive’s appointment: 

“David Taylor, our Interim Head of Paid Service, will be stepping down from that role on 30 November 2012.  We are very grateful to David for taking on this important role and for the professionalism and skill that he has exhibited throughout.  After stepping down, David will continue in his role as Corporate Director – People, along with his other important statutory responsibilities as director of children’s services and director of adult services, until he retires at the end of April 2013. 

“At the same time, I am pleased to announce that Clive Wright, our newly appointed Operations Director, will assume the Head of Paid Service role.  Clive is looking forward to working with our senior management team (whose roles and responsibilities remain unchanged by this restructure) as they seek to drive forwards the strategic policy objectives of the elected members.” 

The Operations Director post has a salary of £97,760 and a remit to oversee the management team, and drive forward customer-focused service delivery.  It is an interim post for a fixed term of 18 months, to oversee the next stage in the council’s transition.  The role will be considerably more operational and people-focused than that of the previous Chief Executive position.

Clive Wright, 49, joined Shropshire Council from Walsall Council in 2011 and has 15 years of senior management experience in the charity and public sector fields. 

He said:

“I’m really pleased to be given the opportunity to help the council continue to deliver excellent services, despite the huge financial challenges being faced by us all.  I’ll be working closely with staff, who have been doing a brilliant job in difficult circumstances, and I’m looking forward to working with councillors and Cabinet to drive forward the council’s corporate priorities – in other words, making sure the council does the best it possibly can for the people of Shropshire.”