A NEW MANAGING Director for Worcester City Council has been appointed after David Blake was handed the role.
His appointment was confirmed at a meeting of the council on Tuesday (March 28).
Mr Blake has seen off the challenge of nine other candidates to secure the backing of the selection panel tasked with filling the £105,000 a year role.
He is currently the council’s Corporate Director, Place, with responsibility for planning policy, economic development, housing and development management.
Mr Blake joined Worcester City Council in 2014, having previously held a range of senior roles at Advantage West Midlands for over a decade.
There he worked on economic regeneration projects across the region and managed a budget of £58 million, working in partnership with other agencies to deliver infrastructure, innovation and business support projects.
Roles earlier in his career included Assistant Chief Executive of Staffordshire Training and Enterprise Council (TEC) and a significant period in the private sector.
Since the departure of former managing director Sheena Ramsey last month, he has also been the acting Head of Paid Service.
Mr Blake said: “Worcester is a city on the up, with a growing tourism and heritage offer and many great businesses choosing to make their home here.
“I am committed to helping create a bright future for the city and to transforming the council to deliver an excellent service for all our residents,” he added,
Council leader Coun Adrian Gregson chaired the selection panel and said: “David has shown a great commitment to working tirelessly for the good of Worcester.
“All the panel agreed David was the best person to take this council forward on its journey to excellence and to deliver our ambitious City Plan.”
Panel vice-chair and Conservative group leader Coun Marc Bayliss, said: “David shone out from a very strong field of candidates for this important job.
“I know he is focussed on delivering a strong future for Worcester and on leading the council with vision and integrity, and will be a first rate Managing Director.”
