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Amy Harhoff has been appointed chair of the UK Mayors' Chief Executives Group.Harhoff is chief executive at East Midlands County Combined Authority and serves as a policy lead for economic prosperity at the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives.East Midlands mayor Claire Ward has been appointed as chair of the UK Mayors Network, taking over from West Yorkshire mayor Tracy Brabin.She said: ‘I want to use this role to make sure the voice of mayors is heard clearly at the heart of government and that the benefits of devolution are felt in every part of England.' Paul Richards has been named as chief officer of Birmingham East Mayoral Development Corporation (BEMDC).Richards will take up the role in November, leaving his current position as deputy chief executive of Stockport MBC.Chief executive Michael Cullen said: ‘Paul has played a pivotal role in many of the borough's most significant regeneration and growth projects, working closely with colleagues, partners and communities to help deliver lasting change.‘Paul's appointment is a reflection of his leadership, expertise and commitment and I wish him every success in this next chapter.' His three-year term on the National Lottery Heritage Fund and National Heritage Memorial Fund Board begins this month.Bancroft is currently vice chair of Sport Wales and chair of the Electoral Management Board Wales.He also sits on the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport's UK town of culture advisory panel.Bancroft's local government career included roles at Flintshire CC and Knowsley MBC before taking the reins at Wrexham for six years. Fiona Ledden has announced that she is to retire as city solicitor for Manchester and Salford City Councils.Ledden's career in the sector began in 1985 and she has held her current role for 12 years.She also previously worked at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Brent and Sutton LBCs and the Greater London Authority.Manchester's chief executive Tom Stannard said: ‘Fiona is a titan of local government and Manchester has been incredibly lucky to have her in its corner for more than 12 years.‘Professionally, Fiona will leave big shoes to fill and we will miss the calm and steady hand that has skippered us so deftly through various choppy waters.'

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UK Mayors' Chief Executives Group appoints chair

By Martin Ford | 08 September 2026

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