Merton Council Chief Executive Steps Down
Ged Curran had been in the role for seventeen years
Ged Curran. Picture: Merton Council
After seventeen years at the helm, the chief executive of Merton Council is stepping down.
Ged Curran was appointed in 2004, he takes responsibility for the work of the council’s 5,000 paid staff.
On Linkedin he wrote, “I have been lucky to work with great councillors and staff as well as some inspiring colleagues at partner agencies.
“It is a well-kept secret quite how fantastic being a local authority chief executive is. Thank you to everyone who made my experience so enjoyable.
“I have a number of interests I now want to pursue and am looking forward to the adventures ahead.”
The council will soon start recruitment for someone to take over the top job, which offers a salary of £181,332-201,741 a year – Mr Curran was paid a salary of £189,000 a year.
This needs to first go to full council on 3 February, but the subject was discussed at an appointment committee meeting on Thursday night (21 January).
The process will involve longlisted candidates having preliminary interview with shortlisted candidates being put through psychometric profiling – this is a way of measuring abilities, attitudes and personality usually using questionnaires.
The successful candidate will also be interviewed by the leader of the council and be invited to an ‘informal lunch’ with councillors, if social distancing permits.
It is expected that the job advert will go live in mid-February with the hope of appointing a new chief executive in May.
Tara O'Connor, Local Democracy Reporter
February 1, 2021