Birmingham City Council appoints new Managing Director

She will join the council in the autumn after spending seven years leading Manchester City Council.

Ms Roney grew up on a council estate in Shard End and joined Birmingham City Council as an apprentice aged 16. She went on to hold Executive Director positions at two UK local authorities, going on to be Chief Executive at Wakefield and most recently joined Manchester City Council in 2017 as Chief Executive.

In 2009 Ms Roney was awarded an OBE and earlier this year a CBE, both for services to Local Government.

Cllr John Cotton, Leader of Birmingham City Council said: “Joanne was the standout candidate to steer the council through its current challenges and transform it into an organisation that delivers consistently good services for the people and communities of Birmingham.

“She’s from Birmingham, knows and loves this city and is a committed public servant with a proven track record and a wealth of experience. I look forward to working with her as we strive to give the people of Birmingham the council and the future they deserve.”

Joanne Roney said: “I’ve loved my time in Manchester. It’s a wonderful city and I’m proud of what – together with colleagues, partners and the city’s political leadership – we’ve been able to achieve here. Whoever follows me as chief executive is inheriting an incredible role alongside a talented and dedicated leadership team.

“I might be an adopted Mancunian, and proud of it, but I’m a native Brummie and this was the only role which could have tempted me away. I began my career as an apprentice at Birmingham City Council at the age of 16 so the prospect of concluding it there as managing director, and helping the place where I grew up and my family still live rise to its current challenges, was a compelling one.”

Cllr Bev Craig, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “I understand the emotional pull the Birmingham job has for Joanne and we wish her every success in her new role as she moves back home. We thank her for her service and her contribution to the city over the last seven years.

“As she would be the first to say, everything we do here is a team effort and she will leave behind a strong and talented management team with a clear vision of where the city is going, its strengths to be built upon and celebrated and the long-term challenges which we are addressing. It is, as ever, an exciting time in Manchester.”