Council search for new Chief Executive continues

12 December 2025

West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) has paused plans for appointing a new permanent Chief Executive until later next year so it can refocus its approach.

The decision was made this week by the Council’s Senior Appointments Committee of cross-party councillors after interviewing candidates for the Chief Executive role, which is responsible for ensuring the delivery of over 900 public services to more than 430,000 people across West Northants, leading over 2,800 staff and managing budgets totalling over £1.2bn.

While the Committee met some impressive candidates, members agreed that at this time they did not have the ideal person to lead the UK’s fifth largest unitary council into its next, fresh chapter for improving local services and communities in West Northants.

The Council’s current interim chief executive, Martin Henry, will continue in the role until the summer, when a second round of recruitment is expected to take place.

Councillor Mark Arnull, Leader of the Council, said: “As we enter our next, exciting chapter as a Council, it’s really important we have the very best person for the role of our new Chief Executive. We felt that some of the candidates had the potential to do the role but having considered them all at great length the Panel was not persuaded that we currently had the right fit at this point in time.”

“Given the uncertain national backdrop of significant funding pressures, major local government reform and devolution, it makes sense that we pause our recruitment plans for a while and reflect and refocus on the process. We also saw significant changes to our make-up across all parties in May’s elections and revisiting the recruitment a year on from this will give us time to further embed and shape our priorities in readiness for our next permanent chief executive.”

Councillor Daniel Lister, member of the Senior Appointments Committee, added: “We would like to thank everyone who has been involved in the recruitment so far and we really value the support and involvement of our partners, whose insight has been invaluable. West Northamptonshire has real momentum and a story that deserves to be heard on a bigger stage. This is an important moment for us to strengthen our voice and take the time to make sure we get this appointment right for our residents and businesses.

“As our search continues, we are determined to secure a new Chief Executive that will give West Northamptonshire a strong voice, build influential partnerships and turn that ambition into visible results for local people. In the meantime, residents can be reassured that the Council remains in strong and safe hands with Martin Henry as Interim Chief Executive and Stuart Timmiss as Interim Deputy Chief Executive.”