Manchester council chief executive Joanne Roney is set to leave town hall

Manchester council chief executive Joanne Roney CBE is to leave the city hall after seven years Manchester Evening News can reveal. Having taken over from Sir Howard Bernstein in 2017, she is expected to become a top boss at the troubled Birmingham council, returning to her home city.

Ms Roney, who moved to Manchester after a nine-year stint at the helm of Wakefield council, is the first woman to serve as the city’s top officer. She initially worked with veteran council leader Sir Richard Leese before Bev Craig took over.

She oversaw the City Hall’s response to the 2017 Manchester Arena terror attack and the Covid-19 pandemic. Ms Roney is also Chief Executive Officer for Skills, Education and Work at Greater Manchester Combined Authority. She was named Municipal Journal Chief Executive of the Year in 2022 – the same year Manchester City Hall was named Council of the Year by the Local Government Chronicle.

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She oversaw the complete rebuild of the Park Hill estate, working with Manchester developers Urban Splash, and was key in transforming the council’s children’s services.

Talking to Manchester Evening News. in 2017, Ms Roney said: “Why Manchester? Manchester has always been, throughout my career, the place you’ve gone. It’s been a hotbed of forward thinking – innovative, good ideas. You’ve always had a connection with Manchester.”

Ms Roney started at Birmingham council as an apprentice in the housing department aged 16. He quickly climbed the ladder, going on to become director of housing at Kirklees council; worked with the charity Shelter; and served as deputy chief executive in Sheffield.

Last year, Birmingham council effectively declared bankruptcy. The council’s chief executive, Deborah Cadman, announced she would be stepping down earlier this year.

The troubled local authority saw a commissioner appointed by the government to oversee its recovery. West Midlands bosses have been impressed by Ms Roney’s track record and see Manchester as a national success story. She has been tipped for the top job for a while.

The MEN understands Ms Roney will take a few months’ notice in Manchester and join Birmingham later in the year. Her family still lives in the city. The process of recruiting a replacement here is expected to begin soon.

The move has yet to be officially confirmed, although a statement from Birmingham City Hall and ratification is expected in the next 24 hours. It is understood he will take on the newly created role of managing director.