Last checked at 21 Dec 2017 15:51
21 December 2017
Aberdeen City Council hires four new Directors
Aberdeen City Council has today appointed four new directors to lead a major transformation of the organisation.
Following a national recruitment exercise, the directors will lead four new functions at the heart of the new Target Operating Model.
The four functions are Customer, Commissioning, Operations and Resources.
Aberdeen City Council Chief Executive Angela Scott said: "We are delighted to have reached the final stages of the recruitment process for our new senior management team and are looking forward to welcoming the directors to Aberdeen City Council in the New Year."
Andy MacDonald has been appointed to the Director of Customer Services role. Mr MacDonald will be responsible for bringing together all customer contact into one workstream and joining up information, working with residents and communities to ensure the Council has a clear understanding of customer needs, overseeing the development of digital services and supporting the empowerment of people and communities.
The Director of Commissioning Frank McGhee will be responsible for ensuring all of the services provided by the Council either in-house or through delivery partners meet the priorities of the Community Planning Partnership - that is improving outcomes for the economy, the people and the place.
The Director of Resources Steve Whyte, who is the Council's current Head of Finance, will be responsible for managing the Council's assets and the delivery of major infrastructure projects that support the economic development of the city. In addition, the development and support of the Council's workforce and continued prudent financial management will also be a key responsibility.
Rob Polkinghorne has been appointed as the Chief Operating Officer and will bring together the leadership of the Council's 'in house' delivery functions such as an integrated children's and family services that will look after all of the needs of a child including education, social work and family support services. Management of the city's parks and green spaces as well as waste services and trading standards will also be part of this role.
Director biographies:
Rob Polkinghorne joins from his role as an Associate Director of Strategy at NHS West Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group and has extensive experience leading organisational change and improving performance across multiple public sector organisations including fire and rescue and local government.
Andy MacDonald is the current Head of Customer and Business Services at Glasgow City Council and led the award winning 'Tomorrow's Support Services' Transformational Programme to develop and deliver an effective, efficient and customer focussed Customer Service.
Frank McGhee has worked across the public sector for over 30 years including holding senior roles in both health and local government organisations. He is currently the Director of Integrated Commissioning working for Derby City Council and Southern Derbyshire Clinical Commissioning Group. He has a strong focus on outcome based commissioning and multi-agency working around the needs of people and families. Mr McGhee has also held two national adviser roles for Government departments. He is currently seconded, on a part time basis, to NHSE as the National Transformation Adviser to the children and young people mental health programme.
Steve Whyte has worked with Aberdeen City Council for the last 26 years and has recently been named Public Finance Professional of the Year. In addition, the Council's finance department has been named Finance Team of the Year. Steve and his team have been instrumental in securing a Credit Rating of Aa3 by Moody's Investors Services due to the Council's strong financial management while also being central to finding innovative ways to fund major capital projects in Aberdeen. Most notably, the successful £370million bond issue completed last year that was a first for a Scottish council.