The UK’s first chief executive to lead two unitary local authorities at the same time has announced he is planning to step down at the end of the year.
Derek Myers was appointed as Chief Executive of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in 2000. In October 2011 he also took the helm at Hammersmith & Fulham (H&F) following plans to combine a range of services to save money.
With H&F electing a new leader last year, and Kensington and Chelsea about to choose a new leader following Sir Merrick Cockell’s decision to step down after 13 years in charge, Myers says he has decided that now is the right time to go to allow the two council leaders to appoint a new joint Chief Executive.
The move will allow the two councils to advertise in June and enable a managed handover later in the year.
Sir Merrick Cockell, outgoing Leader of the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, said: “Under the guiding hand of Derek Myers Kensington and Chelsea has been one of the best performing councils in the country according to both the Audit Commission and Ofsted.”
Councillor Nicholas Botterill, H&F Council Leader, said: “Derek has … been a major force in the Tri-borough plans to improve the lives of residents by sharing best practice and reducing duplication and waste.”
Before joining Kensington and Chelsea in 2000, Derek Myers was chief executive at the London Borough of Hounslow and before that its director of social services.
