Title

Falkirk Council's chief executive Kenneth Lawrie will retire in March, following eight years in the role.He has previously worked at Dartford BC, Scottish Borders Council and Midlothian Council, where he served as chief executive before joining Falkirk in 2018.Acting leader Cllr Paul Garner said: ‘Kenneth has led the council through some exceptionally challenging years with honesty, care and a strong commitment to the people of Falkirk.' Paul Johnson has announced he is to retire as chief executive of Solihull MBC.He has held the role since 2023, having also served as the director of resources and deputy chief executive, and will leave the council in March 2027.Johnson said: ‘By the time I retire, I will have completed 46 years in local government, of which 19 years have been in leadership roles at Solihull including four years as chief executive.‘A lot has been achieved through working with friends and colleagues from across the region, but there remain endless opportunities for my successor to pursue.' Julian Neilson has announced he is to join Trafford MBC as director of finance.He is currently executive director of finance at Hull and East Yorkshire Combined Authority.Neilson, who joined the authority in February 2025, thanked the board and colleagues for their support.He added: ‘This has not been an easy decision and I am proud of what has been achieved in a short time to establish the financial foundations of the authority, including approval of balanced budgets and a medium-term financial plan, and publication of the authority's first set of statutory accounts.' The new East Surrey Council has appointed Claire Edgar as executive director for adults, housing and wellbeing.Edgar is currently executive director of adults, wellbeing and health partnerships at Surrey CC and will take on the new role when the council launches in April 2027.She said: ‘By bringing housing, wellbeing and adult social care together, we can look at new ways to better connect services around residents' needs.‘In the meantime, my priority will be making sure the transition to the new unitary councils is as smooth as possible.'Edgar has previously held senior leadership roles at Sheffield City Council, Wiltshire Council and Southampton City Council, where she was acting head of paid service. Charlotte Johns has taken up the role of deputy chief executive at Wolverhampton City Council.Johns joined the council in 2012 and is currently executive director of place.She will share the new role with Mark Taylor, who is entering flexible retirement.She said: ‘It's a real privilege to have this opportunity to contribute more broadly to the leadership of the organisation and city I care deeply about. I'm excited to work with colleagues, councillors and partners to continue to deliver for Wolverhampton.' Ian Thomas has been named as the most influential Black Briton in the Black Powerlist awards.Thomas has held the role of town clerk and chief executive of the City of London Corporation since 2023.His citation read: ‘As a son of Jamaican members of the Windrush generation, Ian now leads an institution entwined with Britain's civic and economic history.'Before joining the City of London, Thomas served as chief executive of Kingston upon Thames LBC and was awarded a CBE in 2019 while strategic director for children and young people at Rotherham MBC.Also named in the list was Althea Loderick, chief executive of Southwark LBC.She said: ‘It is both an honour and humbling to be listed alongside such amazing Black people who are out there making a real difference to the world.‘But this is not about me, or indeed the others on the list. This is about inspiring people of African and Caribbean heritage and showing them the power of opportunity.'

Title

PEOPLE

Falkirk chief executive to retire

By Martin Ford | 04 November 2026

Popular articles by Martin Ford

SUBSCRIBE TO CONTINUE READING

Popular articles by Martin Ford