Three of the UK's most prominent and long-standing chief executives have announced their retirement in the same week. Paul Rogerson of Leeds City Council, John Schultz of Stockport MBC, and Byron Davies of Cardiff, told their respective staff they were stepping down after 40 years at the helm between them. The latter two are both past presidents of the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives. The longest-serving, Mr Schultz, became chief at Stockport in 1994, and is only the council's second chief executive since reorganisation in 1974. Only three chiefs in England have been in the post longer than him – Carole Hudson at St Helens MBC, Barry Quirk at Lewisham LBC, and John Sinnott at Leicestershire CC. Mr Schultz, 58, said he was retiring in 2010, a year before his 60th birthday, to allow his successor time to ‘prepare for the financial challenges' expected from the next CSR round. Mr Rogerson, 61, of Leeds, with 10 years in post, said he had ‘decided to get my life back', and has no plans to cease working altogether. He said the biggest changes during his tenure were the partnership agenda, and the huge regeneration of Leeds city centre, which had enhanced its role as a regional capital. Mr Davies, 62, was appointed the first chief at the new unitary of Cardiff in 1995, following three years at South Glamorgan CC. During his term, he presided over the city's major transformation with the development of Cardiff Bay and the city centre. He is also president of UdiTE, the European chief executives' association.
