30/01/04 - Cumbria County Council Appoints Interim Chief Executive

Today, Cumbria County Council has offered an appointment to a highly regarded Chief Executive to lead an intensive improvement programme. Following a meeting of the Chief Officer’s Panel on Wednesday, John Harwood was offered and accepted the post and will take up his position (subject to Council ratification) on Monday 1 March 2004.   

Rex Toft, Leader of Cumbria County Council says,

“John Harwood has extensive experience, having worked as Chief Executive of three successful large public bodies over the last 21 years.  Mr Harwood was most recently Chief Executive of the Learning and Skills Council for England, and from 1989 to 2000 was Chief Executive of Oxfordshire County Council.  Whilst at Oxfordshire he modernised the Council’s management operations and transformed the approach to economic development in the County.

The Local Government Association recommended John Harwood to us.  His past experience highlights evidence of an innovative manager who has the skills, knowledge and commitment to put Cumbria County Council back on track.   I am delighted to welcome John to Cumbria and look forward to him taking up post.”

Commenting on his appointment, John Harwood says,

“I am very much looking forward to starting work in Cumbria.  The County Council has done much in recent years in which it can be justifiably proud.  However it has also sustained some serious criticism. My job over the next few months to build on the Council’s strengths – and on the ambitions for the county which I know are shared by both Councillors and staff - and to address and overcome the weaknesses.

We will all have to work very hard.   But I am confident that the County Council can put the recent past behind it and make the difference to public services and the life and economy of Cumbria that people want to see.