Sheffield Appoints New Chief Executive

John Mothersole has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of Sheffield City Council, subject to ratification by full Council.  His appointment follows a rigorous assessment programme held earlier this week, in which he was competing against a very strong field, and selection by a cross party panel chaired by Council Leader Councillor Paul Scriven.

 

Mr Mothersole, 48, is currently the Interim Chief Executive, a position he has held since March 2008.  John joined the Council in 1998 as Executive Director - Development, Environment, and Leisure, a position he held until taking on the Interim Chief Executive role. He takes on his new position with immediate effect.

 

The Council had advertised nationally in its search for a new Chief Executive, and received applications from across the country.  Commenting on the appointment, Councillor Paul Scriven said: “I’m really looking to working with John. I think he will be an exceptional Chief Executive, and will take the step up from his role as Executive Director in his stride.  We have searched far and wide to find the best candidate, and put all the candidates through a testing selection process. We look forward to working with John in taking the city to its next chapter and making Sheffield a place where everyone matters.”

 

Responding to his appointment, John Mothersole said: “Sheffield is a city that I, and my family, have come to love. To be given both the opportunity to be the Chief Executive, and to be given the trust of the Council in carrying out this role, can only be described as a deep honour. The City Council can be a huge force for good in this city. My job and my ambition is to work with the Council Leader to make sure that this is the case. This is the sort of job that you have to do with your heart and your head. That is exactly how I will do it.”

 

As part of the selection process candidates not only presented to and were interviewed by the selection panel, they also met with representatives from the private, public, and voluntary sectors. In addition, for the first time four Sheffield residents were given the opportunity to put questions to the candidates in person, and their views on the answers they received contributed to the final decision.