Lambeth council’s appointments committee has recommended that local residenrt Bayo Dosunmu, currently the council’s deputy chief executive, be appointed as the council’s new chief executive.
The appointment of Dosunmu , who is also the council’s strategic director for resident services, is subject to approval by a full council meeting on 25 May.
The council’s current chief executive, Andrew Travers, has announced that he will stand down after more than four years in the role.
Council leader Claire Holland said Dosunmu has “true passion and commitment for Lambeth”.
She said he came through “incredibly strongly” in interview and he demonstrated his ability to meet the challenges and opportunities ahead for the borough.
“Throughout my time working with Bayo, both as a cabinet member and as leader, I have been impressed by his commitment to transforming services for residents, his capacity to lead by example and his ability to work with and develop the potential of our talented and diverse workforce at every level of the council.” Holland said.
Dosunmu said: “I’m deeply honoured to have been recommended by the councillor panel to be the council’s next chief executive.
“Lambeth is a brilliant, welcoming and diverse borough, a place of culture and opportunity that I am proud to serve and call home.
“The pandemic has hit some of our communities and local businesses hard and, as chief executive, it will be my mission to support all our residents to live well and thrive, and support colleagues to feel valued and do the best they can to serve all of our communities.
“I will work with members and partners to take the council forward to a future that is sustainable, inclusive and fair.”
He paid tribute to Andrew Travers who, he said, had steered the council through Covid and ensured that it had been placed on a secure financial footing.
Andrew Travers said: “It has been a genuine privilege for me to fulfil what I consider to be one of the best jobs in local government and I know that Bayo will bring real passion, leadership and determination to it.
“He is a leader with strong understanding of London and local government and the ability to work with members, partners and residents to make Lambeth an even better place to live, work, learn and invest.”
Dosunmu joined Lambeth in 2019 as strategic director for resident services, with responsibility for integrating day-to-day services for housing, environment, revenues and benefits and customer support for residents and businesses across the borough to provide excellent quality and value for money.
He was previously executive director at Homes England and assistant chief executive at the Homes and Communities Agency. He served as a senior civil servant in the Welsh government and Olympic Delivery Authority.
