26th July 2012

WEST DORSET: New chief executive for Dorset County Council

Dorset County Council’s Director for Adult and Community Services, Debbie Ward, is to become the authority’s new chief executive.

She will take over from David Jenkins when he retires in October, managing a budget of over £670 million and around 15,000 staff.

Debbie, who joined the county council from Reading Borough Council in May 2010, is married with two young sons and lives in Poole.

Angus Campbell, Leader of the council and chair of the selection panel: “Debbie came to us relatively recently to take over as Director for Adult and Community Services and has made huge strides in that area in times of increasing budgetary constraint. She is a hugely capable individual and will continue the tradition of outstanding Chief Executives serving Dorset County Council and the people of Dorset.”

David Jenkins added: “It has been a great privilege to have been Chief Executive of the county council in this very special county for the last 13 years. I am delighted to be passing on to Debbie Ward, who I know will do an admirable job of taking the council forward in the next stage of its development.”

Debbie started her career as an environmental health officer and has broadened her experience to cover a wide range of services including housing, community safety and social care. She was Corporate Director of Housing and Community Care at Reading Borough Council before coming to Dorset.

She said: “I will take up the job with enthusiasm and a clear sense of responsibility for the leadership I will need to show as we rise to the significant challenges of the coming years.

“I am particularly looking forward to working with my colleagues, the many committed staff, partners, councillors and most importantly communities and people across this beautiful county of Dorset.”

WEST DORSET: New chief executive for Dorset County Council

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