Neil set to take over as council's interim executive

The appointment comes after current chief executive, Chris Williams, announced his decision to retire at the end of March.

Neil, currently managing director for the transport economy environment business unit, will step into the role until a permanent appointment is made later in the year.

Neil, 57 has been part of the council’s senior management team since he was appointed as strategic director for planning and transportation in 2004.

He brings a wealth of management experience as well as an in-depth knowledge of the county and its issues.

Neil has also overseen many major infrastructure projects across the county and is currently helping to deliver East-West Rail and ‘England’s Economic Heartland’, a strategic alliance across eight authorities from Oxfordshire in the west across to Cambridgeshire in the east.

Leader of the Council Martin Tett said it was important to have an interim chief executive, particularly during such testing times for the council.

He said: “I am delighted that Neil has agreed to take the reins until we can make a permanent appointment.”

Neil is also a non-executive director of Bucks Advantage, a development company co-owned by the Buckinghamshire authorities and the private sector. In a voluntary capacity, he is a non-executive director and chairman of Ngage Solutions Ltd, a not-for-profit company that delivers business solutions for primarily SMEs in the Thames Valley. He was also the honorary treasurer and secretary of ADEPT for 3 years and is now the association’s first vice president.

Neil started in local government in 1982 as a town planner with King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Borough Council, after which his career took him to Peterborough City Council, Wrekin Council, Chester City Council and Oxford City Council.

The appointment is still subject to ratification from full council on 18 February.