There was a major shake-up across Greater Manchester town halls on Wednesday (October 16).
It was triggered as Manchester City Council confirmed Tom Stannard as its new chief executive, to ‘lead the city for the decade ahead’. But his appointment in Manchester has robbed Salford council of its own chief executive.
So while Manchester can soon begin charting a course for its future, Salford — Greater Manchester’s self-titled ‘other city’ — now begins a hunt of its own.
Here, we examine the key questions surrounding Mr Stannard’s appointment.
Who is the new boss?
Manchester has gone for Salford boss Tom Stannard, a chartered surveyor who avoids wearing ties.
A dad in his late-forties originally from London, he first moved to the north west for an undergraduate degree at Lancaster University in the mid-90s. He then returned south for the first of his 27 years in local government.
But he made his way back north in his thirties to take on the assistant chief exec job at Blackburn with Darwen council. He then moved to Oldham council in 2015 to become its economic director, before hopping over the Pennines to Wakefield in 2018 to do a similar job.
He got the top job in Salford in early 2021. Alongside that, he serves as the chair of the UK Institute of Economic Development, commissioner for the UK Living Wage Foundation, and health spokesperson for SOLACE (The Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers).
How much will he earn?
Manchester council will pay Mr Stannard an annual salary of £220,982. It’s the same package his predecessor Joanne Roney enjoyed. It’s a significant jump from the £185-190,000 he earned in Salford.
How did he get the job?
The door opened for a new Manchester chief executive in the summer, after Joanne Roney announced she was taking on the newly-created role of ‘managing director’ at bankrupt Birmingham council, her hometown.
In the interim, former Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) chief executive Eamonn Boylan took the reins for Manchester City Council, and is expected to remain in temporary charge until the new year.
Boss-less Manchester therefore wanted ‘somebody that had significant experience to lead us through the challenges we face, maintain Manchester’s ambitions as a world-class city, and maintain world-class services’, Bev Craig said on Wednesday.
Their choice is Mr Stannard after he came through a ‘thorough and rigorous process’ which ‘saw a range of visits across Manchester, and stakeholder interviews with business leaders and community groups, key partners, and elected members from all parties’, Coun Craig went on.
The final interview took place on Monday, after which Mr Stannard was ‘unanimously’ confirmed, she added.
What did he do in Salford?
Mr Stannard was head of Salford council’s paid service for four years, working alongside city mayor Paul Dennett during a period of huge change in the city. With a growing population, the council battled worsening homelessness and housing crises, while also developing swathes of the city like Greengate with new residential buildings.
And Mr Stannard and Labour mayor Dennett enjoyed a ‘good relationship’, according to a Salford council source, speaking anonymously. They added: “He was a safe pair of hands, no one had any issues with him.
“But he does spend a lot of time outside Salford, he’s on a lot of boards. He’s someone who is good at climbing the [career] ladder.”
Appreciation for the chief exec was not just expressed by Labour, with Salford’s Conservative leader Robin Garrido describing him as ‘a good servant to the city’. He went on: “I’m disappointed that he’s going, he’s been a good servant to the city for the last four years.
“I find him extremely helpful, he always gives good unbiased advice which is important. His skills are second to none, Salford has been in safe hands while he’s been with us.”
Where does his appointment leave Salford?
It appears Mr Stannard will leave his former employer on good terms, with mayor Dennett wishing him ‘every success in his new role’.
He explained: “[The appointment] comes after helping to lead the delivery of a number of significant achievements in Salford including our children’s services being judged as the best performing services in the north west, and significant growth in the city. We look forward to continuing a strong working relationship with Tom in his new role and with colleagues in Manchester.”
While praise was free-flowing, the mayor kept his cards close to his chest when he was asked how Salford council would respond to losing Mr Stannard. He added: “We will confirm next steps with regards to the recruitment of Tom’s successor in due course.”
