Following a national recruitment and selection process, the Staffing Committee at Cheshire East will recommend to full Council on 7th May that Mike Suarez be appointed as the new permanent Chief Executive.
A shortlist of three candidates went through the final selection process which involved discussions with representatives of local partner organisations and businesses, as well as with meetings to which all elected Members of the Council were invited, including meetings with the Cabinet and a cross party Member Group.
The Staffing Committee made its final selection on the basis also of a presentation by and formal interview with each candidate
Kim Ryley told council employees "Subject to the willingness of full Council to confirm Mr Suarez's appointment, it is hoped that he will take up his post with us by about the end of June. In the meantime, I will continue as our interim Chief Executive, to ensure a smooth handover, and will offer ongoing support to Mike after that."
Mr Suarez is employed currently as Executive Director of Finance and Resources with the London Borough of Lambeth, with responsibility for customer services, revenues and benefits, shared financial services, procurement, ICT, legal and democratic services, internal audit and corporate finance.
Kim Ryley continued "As a qualified accountant, he has extensive experience in senior Finance roles with several other councils, including Westminster City Council and Slough Borough Council where he was also Deputy Chief Executive, with responsibility for organisational and community leadership, property and regeneration.
"Mike is a Non-Executive Director of the CIPFA Council and has performed a similar role in an Insurance Mutual company for London authorities, as well as holding regional and national leadership roles in Finance for Local Government.
"Lambeth is one of the largest London unitary authorities and, in his seven years there, Mike has contributed to major changes and improvements in the performance and quality of the Council's services, as well as in its reputation. At Westminster he was part of the senior leadership team that won the LGC Council of the Year Award.
"I am confident that Mike Suarez will be a valuable addition to our growingly strong senior leadership team, and that he will quickly take forward the good work we have started to reshape the Council and make it fit for the future."
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But I don't always believe what other Councillors tell me.
According to the Telegraph he was on about £176k at Lambeth, so I assume that it's more than that.