Permanent appointments announced for senior leadership team

This significant step shows the commitment to building a stable and strong leadership structure at the council, which is essential for the delivery of the council’s Improvement and Recovery Plan and future ambitions.  

The appointments are:

• Rishi Shori, Deputy Chief Executive
• Carol Culley, Executive Director of Finance and S151 Officer
• Stuart Lackenby, Executive Director of Adult Social Care and Health
• Richard Lawrence, Executive Director of Places, Prosperity and Sustainability

Rishi Shori was previously Director of Intervention Response and acting Deputy Chief Executive of Birmingham City Council and started his new role in November last year. He has held leadership roles previously at Bury Metropolitan Borough Council, Greater Manchester Combined Authority and the Local Government Association. He will oversee the new Deputy Chief Executive Directorate which brings together council functions including strategy, policy, communications and corporate performance. He will continue to lead upon the Council's response to the current intervention.

Carol Culley’s previous roles include City Treasurer, S151 Officer and Deputy Chief Executive at Manchester City Council.  She also served as a government-appointed Commissioner, helping to address significant national challenges in local government. She is currently a Commissioner at Woking Council.

Carol has extensive experience in financial management, governance and assurance. In 2020, she was awarded an OBE for her services to local government.

Stuart Lackenby is the current Deputy Chief Executive and Executive Director of People Services at West Northamptonshire Council.  In this role, he oversees services that support the community including adult social care, children’s services and public health.

Stuart began his career as a Support Worker and qualified as a Social Worker and Learning Disability Nurse.  He then worked as a staff nurse in the assessment and treatment unit for adults with learning disabilities.

Richard Lawrence is currently Director of Regeneration at the City of Wolverhampton Council.  He brings with him expertise and experience in delivering housing, property, economic development, transport, conservation and tourism.

Richard has over 25 years’ experience in regeneration in both the private and public sector, including senior positions across local authorities.  He has led on large-scale regeneration projects including in the West Midlands and the Combined Authority to drive growth, improve infrastructure and enhance quality of life for residents.

Cllr John Cotton, Leader of Birmingham City Council, said: “I’m really pleased to welcome Carol, Stuart and Richard to Birmingham. Following the appointment of Joanne Roney as the council’s Managing Director, we are continuing to enhance our governance and leadership capabilities with these appointments, which further strengthen our corporate leadership team and are crucial to delivering a well-run, modern and effective council for Birmingham’s residents.”

Birmingham City Council Managing Director Joanne Roney said: "It is important to Birmingham’s improvement journey to have a stable senior management team. I am delighted that the national recruitment process has brought the best to Birmingham to work alongside the existing senior team who have already made substantial progress to the improvement journey."

Carol, Stuart and Richard will take up their roles at the city council shortly.