Following a national search and rigorous two-day selection process Geoff Rivers is being recommended by St Edmundsbury's Officer Appointments Committee as the borough council's new chief executive. Full council will be asked to approve the recommendation at its meeting on 1 July.
Geoff has been Chief Executive of South Norfolk District Council for the past nine years. He brings with him a strong track record of improving council services. South Norfolk achieved the Audit Commission's Comprehensive Performance Assessment top rating of excellent last year at the same time as St Edmundsbury.
St Edmundsbury Borough Council Leader, Cllr John Griffiths, said:
"We had an incredibly strong field from which to choose our new Chief Executive. There was a rigorous assessment and interview process, with applicants from all over the country, and Geoffshone throughout as a dedicated professional, committed to improving our services still further. There is a challenging job for him ahead, steering St Edmundsbury through the local government review process, ensuring all our major projects stay on track and maintaining and improving our day-to-day services. However, I am confident Geoffhas the skills and experience to ensure the borough council meets the aspirations of our residents and business community. I am pleased to report that the recruitment process and appointment has been carried out within existing budgets and I look forward to recommending Geoff to all of St Edmundsbury's councillors on 1 July."
In a first for St Edmundsbury, and probably a first for any council, Geoff's predecessor as Chief Executive at St Edmundsbury was his wife, Deborah Cadman, who has now moved on to be Chief Executive of the East of England Development Agency (EEDA).
Cllr Griffiths said:
"This has to be a unique situation, where the reins are handed over between two chief executives who have not only both steered their respective councils to 'excellent' status but are also married to one another. It is certainly unusual but Geoff was chosen on his own merits from a strong and competitive list of candidates and I am confident that he is the right person to take St Edmundsbury forward."
Before working in South Norfolk, Geoff was employed by the Liverpool Partnership Group. Before this, his local government experience was gained in Middlesbrough, Birmingham City, Coventry and Newcastle.
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