Title

PEOPLE

Cardiff chief to step down after 12 years

Cardiff Council chief executive Paul Orders has revealed he intends to step down after more than 12 years.

Paul Orders © Cardiff Council

Paul Orders © Cardiff Council

Cardiff Council chief executive Paul Orders has revealed he intends to step down after more than 12 years.

Orders, who was previously chief executive officer of Dunedin City Council in New Zealand for two years, said he looked back with ‘pride' in Cardiff Council's achievements.

He started as a policy research officer at Cardiff in 1998 and worked his way up the organisation to become a corporate director.

Orders said: ‘I felt that 12 years was long enough in the role and that the time was right to signal my intention to step down, allowing me time to focus on personal priorities while also enabling a transition ahead of the local elections next year. I hope to stay involved in some shape or form, supporting the sector in any way I can.

‘I've been fortunate to work alongside fantastic teams of officers and members whose commitment and know-how has been extraordinary. We have navigated significant challenges together – from sustained financial pressures to the unprecedented impact of the pandemic.'

Orders has a Ph.D in history from the University of Cambridge and an MA in area studies from the University of London University of London.

 

PEOPLE

What England can learn from Japan's approach to local government finance

By Naoki Fujiwara | 04 June 2026

Consideration of Japan’s approach to local government funding suggests possibilities for doing things differently in England, and opens up space to think abo...

PEOPLE

Governing through uncertainty – what happens next?

By Tim Farr | 04 June 2026

In an era of permanent uncertainty, Tim Farr assesses the challenges many local authorities, chief executives and senior leadership teams are now navigating,...

PEOPLE

Greater Cambridge Development Corporation launched

By Martin Ford | 03 June 2026

Government plans to press ahead with a development corporation in Cambridge have been met with dismay from a council.

PEOPLE

LGA chair to stand down

By Paul Marinko | 03 June 2026

Cllr Louise Gittins has today announced her intention to stand down as chair of the Local Government Association.

Dan Peters

Popular articles by Dan Peters