The £180,000 a year job running Birmingham City Council has been handed to the chief executive of neighbouring Solihull Council it has been announced.
Mark Rogers is set to take over as chief executive of Europe’s largest local authority next year. He will also head up the new economy directorate with a focus on generating jobs and economic growth in the city.
He has been chief executive of Solihull Borough Council since 2007.Before that he was Solihull’s director of children’s services and is still regarded as a national authority on child protection.
This is likely to have been a key factor in his appointment as Birmingham children’s services has been rated as inadequate for five years.
Mr Rogers is also President of the trade association for top town hall officials the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers (SOLACE).
The current chief executive Stephen Hughes announced in September that he was to retire early next year. Mr Hughes will step down in February after turning 60. Mr Rogers is set to join Birmingham City Council in March.
Council leader Sir Albert Bore said: “I am very pleased to welcome Mark as Chief Executive from the beginning of March next year, as Stephen Hughes retires at the end of February, providing continuity at such a critical time for the city council.
“I found Mark full of ideas. He has had demonstrable achievements across his career in local government, and has a successful track record of building effective relationships with key stakeholders and partners. He is a reflective and innovative individual who will support me and my Cabinet team to drive the city forward.”
Mark Rogers said: “I am looking forward to making my contribution to the big challenges – reducing inequality and tackling poverty; bringing in more investment and creating new jobs; and ensuring that the people of Birmingham have a say in their future and how the city council spends its diminishing resources.
“I will draw on my successes in Solihull where, for example, the elected members and I have worked together to forge strong partnerships – with communities and across the public, private and third sectors – to make the borough one of the best places to live in Britain. I will also bring my experiences of working successfully in children’s services to ensure that Birmingham is one of the best places for children and young people to grow up and be safe and successful.
“Being appointed as Chief Executive and Director of Economy for this fabulous city is an amazing – and daunting – honour. I will do my very best to make a positive difference to the lives of its citizens, working with anyone and everyone who can ensure that Birmingham is a place where people want to live, learn, work, play and invest.”
