I am delighted to be able to announce that following a thorough recruitment process, we will be recommending Neil Crittenden as our new Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service, subject to formal approval by Full Council on 10 December 2025.
Neil is currently Interim Vice President at Alton Towers Resort, part of global leisure and hospitality giant Merlin Entertainments group, with accountability for strategic direction, organisational performance, and commercial growth.
With many years of executive leadership experience, Neil has a proven track record in driving organisational transformation and managing large-scale operations.
I am sure that his expertise in strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and cross-functional leadership will serve the Council and local government well.
Neil’s career to date includes oversight of multi-million-pound budgets, complex service delivery, and high-profile projects, underpinned by a commitment to improving customer and visitor experience – skills that translate directly into delivering high-quality services for residents and communities.
In addition, Neil brings extensive experience of working within a highly regulated industry, ensuring rigorous compliance with health, safety, and legislative standards while maintaining operational excellence.
Until a new Chief Executive is in place, we are putting arrangements in place to ensure the continued smooth running of the Council.
I thank everyone for the hard work they are doing. We are well organised and have plans in place to deliver our objectives, and so my message is to continue your good work as we head into the Christmas period.
Councillor Alan Graves, Leader of the Council