New Interim Chief Executive announced

Redbridge resident Lesley Seary, is to be the Council's new Interim Chief Executive, taking over from Andy Donald, who announced in December that he was stepping down after five years supporting the management of the Council. 

As well as living in the borough, Lesley has also worked for Redbridge Council before as Corporate Director of Customer Service and Performance, a post she held for a number of years. 

Lesley is joining Redbridge at the end of March and brings with her more than 20 years' experience at a senior leadership level in several local authorities, including eight years as Chief Executive at the London Borough of Islington.

During her time with Islington Council, Lesley played a vital role in setting up the Islington Employment Commission, which has helped 5,500 people find work since 2014. She also chaired the youth justice board and helped to establish the borough's integrated gangs team, which uses early intervention to help solve complex cases, tackling issues such as the county lines crisis.

Lesley said: 

"I'm excited to be joining Redbridge Council. Andy has done a terrific job in laying some solid foundations during his tenure, and I look forward to building on that with my new colleagues.

"My immediate focus will be ensuring that we continue to protect our most vulnerable residents and provide vital support to our struggling business community. I will also do my utmost in continuing to lobby those in Whitehall for better and fairer funding for the people of Redbridge. They deserve nothing less."

Leader of Redbridge Council, Cllr Jas Athwal, said:

"I'm delighted that Lesley is re-joining us in this new role. We are very fortunate to be welcoming someone of Lesley's calibre and experience back to Redbridge. Lesley comes with a vast wealth of experience at a senior leadership level in various local authorities and is well equipped to deal with the challenges that the local government sector currently faces. 

"I know she will use this experience together with her local knowledge to steer us through the government's roadmap out of lockdown and help to rebuild our communities as we recover from the impact of COVID-19.

"Andy has made a tremendous difference in his time as our chief executive, and his hard work and vision has supported a transformation, not just of the services we provide to residents, but how we work as a Council. I wish him every success for the future."