Another new chief executive arrives at Sandwell Council as former boss quits
Sandwell Council has appointed a director of a construction company as its third chief executive in as many years.
Kim Bromley-Derry CBE DL is the new interim boss of the troubled authority having been temporarily released from McLaren Construction to take up the role.
He replaces David Stevens, who has stood down after 18 months.
Mr Bromley-Derry will be in the post until the council can appoint a permanent chief executive, having faced criticism for its hiring process last time around. On that occasion Mr Stevens was the only candidate to apply for the job after the authority failed to advertise the £147,000-a-year role nationally.
Council sources told the Express & Star last month that Mr Stevens wanted to leave, feeling that senior officers were being unfairly blamed for turmoil surrounding the authority.
When asked about Mr Stevens' status last month Sandwell Council would not confirm his departure, insisting that he was on leave.
As well as having three different chief executives, the Labour-dominated council has had six different political leaders in the last five years.
The current leader, Councillor Rajbir Singh, represents Bristnall and was voted in three months ago after Maria Crompton had acted as temporary leader for a year.
“I would like to welcome Kim as the new interim chief executive," Councillor Singh said.
"His experience, understanding and insight will be invaluable to us in delivering on our Vision 2030 for the people and businesses of Sandwell and I thank McLaren for releasing Kim to undertake this role.”
Mr Bromley-Derry is temporarily returning to the public sector after three years as group director of strategic partnerships at McLaren.
Before joining the construction group he worked at a number of local authorities across the country, most recently as the chief executive of the London Borough of Newham, a role he held from 2019 to 2018.
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Mr Bromley-Derry said: “I am enthusiastic about supporting Sandwell Council over the coming months as its interim chief executive.
"I am looking forward to working with the councillors, managers, residents and staff in Sandwell in order to deliver the council’s Vision whilst in the role."
Before permanently being appointed last January, Mr Bromley-Derry's predecessor Mr Stevens had also been the interim chief executive for six months after the resignation of Jan Britton. Mr Britton had been in charge for eight years.
The political leadership crises have come as several Sandwell councillors have been investigated by the Labour party.
Since former leader Darren Cooper died in 2016, the Labour group and council has been led by Steve Eling, Steve Trow, Yvonne Davis, Maria Crompton and now Councillor Singh.
Councillor Singh was voted in after the Conservatives gained nine seats in the local elections.
