New director for council
CITY COUNCIL CORPORATE TEAMS GET NEW LEADER
A new chief has been given the job of leading a host of departments at Sunderland City Council.
Jon Ritchie is joining the council as executive director of corporate services from Your Homes Newcastle where he is the finance and commercial director.
The 43-year-old has previously held senior financial and corporate positions at North Tyneside Council and in the private sector with Deloitte and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC).
Irene Lucas CBE, the council’s chief executive, said: “Jon brings with him a wealth of experience and knowledge from both the public and private sectors.
“We look forward to him joining and working with us in coming months.”
Alongside a strategic leadership role as one of the council’s chief officers, Mr Ritche will also oversee finance, ICT, customer services, human resources and organisational development, assurance, procurement, performance and contract management and legal/governance services.
Mr Ritchie said: “I’m delighted to be joining the team at Sunderland.
“Although the challenges facing local authorities are significant, I’m passionate about working in the public sector and in the North East.
“I’m looking forward to working with the elected members and staff on ensuring we further enhance the city for all our residents, business and visitors.”
He will be taking up his post in August and will replace Barry Scarr, who is leaving to join Northumberland County Council.
The job advert for the role said the right candidate would “lead and help shape the full spectrum of corporate services which the council needs to achieve its ambitions.”
The authority has previously said it was looking to make plans to recruit a new chief executive.