Council appoints two more Executive Chief Officers

28th October 2019

The Highland Council has announced two more appointments to new posts of Executive Chief Officer as part of the Council's redesign programme.

Malcolm MacLeod has been appointed as Executive Chief Officer - Infrastructure and Environment. Mark Rodgers has been appointed as Executive Chief Officer - Property and Housing. Mr Rodgers will assume his post in the New Year.

Originally from Stornoway in the Western Isles, Malcolm has been the Council's Head of Planning and Environment for the last 7 years and has worked in the Highlands for over 20 years. His most recent roles have included overseeing the delivery of many of the major housing and infrastructure projects across the Highland area as well as managing the Council's Corporate Change Programme. He brings a strong focus on effective forward planning and an emphasis on partnership working with communities and with the business sector to this new role.

He said: "It is a privilege to have been offered the opportunity to continue to drive forward growth for the Highlands, while recognising the need to manage the beautiful environment we all love. I am looking forward to working with colleagues, Members and the wider community to ensure we deliver the right developments and infrastructure in the right place and at the right time. The Highlands are a fantastic place to live and work in and I am really looking forward to the new role."

Mark Rodgers, who is originally from Edinburgh, is currently Chief Officer (Housing) with Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council, in the West Midlands. He has over 25 years' experience within the social housing sector, across a range of Housing Associations and Councils in Scotland and England. He brings with him a wide range of housing and senior management skills to Highland Council.

Mark said: "I am delighted to be joining Highland Council. The Highland region is a fantastic part of the world. Ensuring our tenants have high quality affordable housing, and that we have enough of it, across all our Highland communities, is a big challenge. So is ensuring that Highland Council buildings are fit for purpose now and into the future. I'm looking forward to that challenge, and to working together with communities, councillors and my new colleagues to address these challenges."

Mr MacLeod and Mr Rodgers join the Council’s already appointed Executive Chief Officers as follows:

Stuart Black, Executive Chief Officer - Transformation and Economy

Liz Denovan, Executive Chief Officer - Resources

Kate Lackie, Executive Chief Officer - Governance and Performance

Carron McDiarmid, Executive Chief Officer - Communities and People

Lesley Weber, Executive Chief Officer - Health and Social Care.

The new senior appointments will each have responsibility for a geographical area which will help to enhance local visibility and enable the Council to become better connected to communities at a local level.

The post of Executive Chief Officer - Education has yet to be appointed.

The Highland Council has already significantly reduced senior and middle management posts in recent years saving over £3.5M and is now reducing management layers further. The new structure will also deliver savings.

Salaries of Highland council senior management 2019/2020

Chief Executive - £154,077

Chief Operating Officer - £119,235

Director of Development and Infrastructure - £119,235

Executive Chief Officer - £91,196

PHOTO

Malcolm MacLeod