New top team to lead City Council
Exeter City Council's Chief Executive, Philip Bostock, will be retiring this summer after 16 years at the helm. A new top team will be taking the city forward with two new senior posts in place of the current three.
The move follows changes to the Council's top management structure as it responds to customers’ changing needs, reducing government finance and focuses on the growth of the city’s economy as the most important thing for Exeter.
Philip Bostock will be maintaining an active involvement in the life of the city, taking on the role of Chair of the Board of Governors of Exeter College, in August.
Council Leader Pete Edwards, said: "I’d like to pay tribute to the fantastic service that Philip Bostock has given to the City Council and to Exeter over the last 16 years. As Chief Executive throughout that period he has overseen a period of continuous economic growth, major new investment and positive change in Exeter which is unique in the city’s recent history. He has been a central player in all the key initiatives and partnerships which have helped this to happen. Exeter would certainly not be the city it is today without his involvement.
"He has also been responsible for leading the huge changes which have taken place within the Council organisation over that period, ensuring that Exeter’s ‘excellent’ council status has been maintained and improved upon, to the benefit of all our citizens and customers. Both I and the City Council wish him the very best in his well-deserved retirement."
Philip Bostock said "I have been privileged to have had the opportunity to play a central role in Exeter’s story of progress and growth over the last 16 years. I will certainly miss the talented, committed and enthusiastic colleagues, councillors and external partners with whom I have so much enjoyed working. But we are entering a period of radical change and I have total confidence that the city and the Council will go forward even stronger as a result of these changes and that a great future lies ahead for Exeter."
Subject to the formal approval of full council on 14 May, Karime Hassan becomes Chief Executive & Growth Director, taking charge of the organisation’s vision and strategic direction, as well as leading on the city’s crucial push for continuing economic growth and sustainable development. Mark Parkinson becomes Deputy Chief Executive. He will support and deputise for the top post leading on financial probity and moving the Authority to become a commercially driven organisation as well as having strategic management responsibility for the Council's support services. Both currently hold Strategic Director positions at the City Council.
Karime Hassan said "Since taking up his post at Exeter in January 1997, Philip has been in charge of the organisation during a period of sustained and very significant positive change for the city. He oversaw the successful campaign to attract the relocation of the Met Office to Exeter in 2003, as well as the prolonged process of planning and negotiation which led to the completion of the award-winning Princesshay city centre redevelopment in 2007. I am looking forward to building on such a firm foundation and leading the Council as it faces the challenges ahead."
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