Stephen Evans has been appointed the new Chief Executive, and Head of Paid Service, of the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead.
Mr Evans was recommended by the council’s Appointment Committee, and this was approved unanimously this evening by Full Council, with his start at the council provisionally set for April.
Mr Evans, who is currently Chief Executive of Norwich City Council, was selected following a high-profile national search and an extensive recruitment process involving staff and Members, as well several panels involving key stakeholders and partners.
Prior to joining Norwich City Council, he was Strategic Director, Communities at the Royal Borough of Kingston Upon Thames and Assistant Chief Executive at Barnet Council.
He said: “I’m delighted to have been given the opportunity to be the next Chief Executive of the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead - my home borough. I was born and brought up in the Royal Borough and have benefitted from the opportunities it has given me.
“I’m looking forward to working with elected members, colleagues and partners to ensure that others in the borough benefit from those same opportunities. The opportunity to work for your home borough only comes up once or twice during your career and I felt I had to grasp it.
“I leave Norwich City Council with a heavy heart after an incredible three years. Norwich is an amazing city and the city council is a great institution, blessed with dedicated councillors and officers.
“I’m so proud of what we’ve achieved together – supporting the people of the city through the pandemic, being the first council in the country to publish a comprehensive Covid recovery plan, and continuing to deliver against the council’s ambitious agenda. When the time comes to say goodbye, I know I leave Norwich City Council fit for the future and on a path of positive change.”
Councillor Andrew Johnson, leader of the Royal Borough of Windsor & Maidenhead, said: “We’re delighted to appoint Stephen as our new Chief Executive and Head of the Paid Service after Full Council approved the recommendation from the Appointment Committee.
“Stephen was an outstanding candidate and brings a wealth of experience to the role, including strategic and corporate leadership and working effectively with key partners to affect change and improvement.
“His broad and varied experience across areas, including policy, housing and regeneration, commercial ventures, climate change and social care means he is perfectly placed to take on this new role at the Royal Borough.”
Mr Evans will take over from Tony Reeves, who has been Interim Chief Executive following the departure in September 2022 of Duncan Sharkey.