New chief executive announced at Walsall Council
A new boss has been chosen to lead Walsall Council to deliver the transformation of the borough.
Emma Bennett will join the local authority as chief executive later this year from neighbours Wolverhampton Council, where she is currently executive director of families.
The post was advertised, as part of an ‘extensive recruitment process’ with a salary of up to £193,000.
She replaces interim boss Deborah Hindson, who has held the reins on a temporary basis since Dr Helen Paterson left the role in February 2023.
While her appointment has been hailed in Walsall, bosses in Wolverhampton said they were sad to see her go. Emma has worked in the public sector for more than 20 years.
She said: “I am really thrilled to be appointed chief executive of Walsall Council.
“I am looking forward to joining the team and building on the great work already happening in Walsall to create an exciting future for the people of the borough.”
She added: “I have genuinely loved my time at Wolverhampton, hence why I’ve been here 16 years – nowhere else has been as exciting!
“However, the opportunity to take this new role at Walsall Council was just too good to turn down, and I am thrilled to have been offered the position. I will look back on my time in Wolverhampton with immense pride.
In her decade at Wolverhampton, the children’s services department has recorded and sustained a ‘good’ Ofsted rating.
Councillor Mike Bird, leader of Walsall Council said: “I am delighted to welcome Emma to Walsall.
“This is a borough that is undergoing real transformation, creating a wealth of opportunity.
“We have ambitious plans for Walsall and Emma will be joining us to deliver those ambitions and to build on our achievements.
“Emma has a wealth of local government experience and she knows this area well. I’m very much looking forward to working with her once the appointment is ratified by councillors next month.”
The appointment will be recommended to full meeting of Walsall Council on July 10 for ratification and she is expected to be in post in the autumn.
Councillor Ian Brookfield, leader of the City of Wolverhampton Council, said: “We are really sad to be losing Emma, but we wish her well in her new role.
“She has been an incredible leader of her service areas for many years, and I sure she will deliver for the people of Walsall in the way she has delivered for the people of Wolverhampton.
“We have a very good relationship with our colleagues at Walsall Council and we look forward to continuing to work closely with Emma in the future.”
