Stockport Council CEO named preferred candidate for top spot at GMCA, GMFRS and TfGM

Fittingly coinciding with International Women’s Day, Caroline Simpson, Chief Executive of Stockport Council, has been revealed as the preferred candidate to become the new Group Chief Executive of Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and Transport for Greater Manchester.

After two years in her role as Chief Executive, Caroline would be taking over the position from another former Chief Executive of Stockport Council, Eammon Boylan, who took up his role at GMCA in 2017, TfGM in 2019, and earlier this year announced his intention to retire as Group Chief Executive following the May Mayoral elections.

Caroline’s recommendation follows an intensive process to recruit a new Chief Executive to lead the next phase of Greater Manchester’s trailblazing devolution agenda, including Bee Network completion and the rollout of the Manchester Baccalaureate proposed as an ambitious pathway for young people from the age of 14 who want to take high quality technical qualifications and pursue a work-related route leading them to the job roles the GM economy needs.

Of her recommended appointment, Caroline said: 

“Greater Manchester has cemented its position as the leading city-region when it comes to English devolution. That didn’t happen by accident, but is the result of the vision, the values, and the courage of civic leaders here to do things differently and put power back into the hands of our people and places.

“Our city-region is now on the cusp of transformational change – and my priority is to catalyse the collaboration and the partnerships that are essential to driving that change, whether that be on the local, national, or international stage.

“I am passionate about Greater Manchester’s devolution journey and our commitment to make this a greener, fairer, more prosperous city-region. It would be a privilege to work alongside local leaders and our communities to deliver that vision, and I’m excited to get on with the job.”

As Chief Exec in Stockport, Caroline is overseeing a major £1bn transformation of the town centre, spearheading the borough’s development, regeneration, planning and transport agenda, and has led the delivery and reform of frontline place management and property services throughout her eight years at the council.

She would also bring a wealth of public sector experience to the role, with a career spanning local government, housing, and regional development agencies in the Northwest and West Midlands.

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said:

“This is a role that comes with considerable expectations, and we were left in no doubt that Caroline is more than ready to meet them. She is one of the most outstanding members of a new generation of local government leaders, and a strong advocate for our city-region.

“She is highly capable and brings huge energy to everything she does. We would be delighted to have her leading Greater Manchester into an exciting new era.”

As the Chief Executive of the GMCA and TfGM, Caroline would take on a role that has been at the forefront of English devolution since 2011, and which is central to delivering the ambitions of the Greater Manchester Strategy: to create a place where everyone can live a good life, growing up, getting on and growing old in a greener, fairer more prosperous city-region.

Leader of Stockport Council Mark Hunter added:

“Caroline Simpson is widely recognised as one of local government’s leading Chief Executives and has led Stockport through considerable change and progress by delivering our ambitious £1bn regeneration programme whilst supporting our communities through nationally recognised services.

“Having someone of Caroline’s talent at Stockport Council has been a privilege and it has been a pleasure working with her during her time in Stockport. Caroline has shown massive commitment to partnerships such as One Stockport, to our workforce and as a place leader for health and care integration.

“Whilst Caroline will be a hard act to follow, we have big ambitions in Stockport as a Council and for our borough and the process of recruiting a new Chief Executive is underway.

“Both Caroline and I are committed to ensuring that recruitment and appointment to the Chief Executive role is carried out quickly and smoothly and Caroline will be staying with the council for the full duration of her notice period.”

In 2023 Greater Manchester was one of the first city-regions to sign a trailblazer devolution deal with the government, unlocking more responsibilities to develop policies and programmes around skills, transport, and housing, and securing a commitment to a single funding settlement, which will be introduced in 2025.

Caroline’s appointment as Group Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service, which is a statutory Combined Authority role, will be the subject of a report to the GMCA on Friday 22 March. The report will provide for Caroline to assume the role of Group Chief Executive when Eamonn Boylan retires in early summer.

Image courtesy of GMCA. For more information visit Greater Manchester Combined Authority website.