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News

13th December 2018

Solace Statement: Solace next President

Next month Solace will have a new President. This is a statement from Graeme Mcdonald, Managing Director of Solace in relation to the role:

After two years Jo Miller (CEO Doncaster MBC) concludes her term of office as Solace President on 31st December
2018.

Following a wide-ranging nomination process earlier this year, Solace members have approved Martin Swales, Chief Executive of South Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council as their new President. His nomination was approved at a Special General Meeting on 12th December at the Institute of Directors. Martin will begin the role for a term of two years starting on 1st of January 2019, while Jo Miller will remain on the Solace Board and be our lead Solace Spokesperson on Leadership and Learning.

Jo Miller said “It has been a privilege to serve Solace members as their President and I thank them for choosing me to represent them. I’ve served to the best of my ability and never underestimated the preciousness of using my voice on behalf of the sector. I want to thank everyone who has given me the content and confidence to speak up for public service and for the people and places we serve, and to thank my brilliant team here in Doncaster and Mayor Ros Jones for giving me the time and space to serve. It is now time to hand over the honour to Martin, a respected and trusted Solace friend. I look forward to seeing him build on our unique voice and help us make a positive contribution at a time when it means so much.”

Martin Swales said: “I feel honoured to have been nominated by my colleagues, and now appointed to the role of Solace President. I’m greatly looking forward to representing our professional body and the sector as a whole.” “Jo has worked tirelessly to represent Solace, articulating her message with great passion and never afraid to speak up where she believes it right for the sector. We are deeply grateful to Jo for her unwavering commitment to the role.” Councillor Iain Malcolm, Leader of South Tyneside Council and Chair of the North East Combined Authority, said:
“Martin is a highly respected Chief Executive and being elected by his colleagues is a well-deserved appointment for Martin to represent and serve the sector nationally. We in South Tyneside are delighted that his experience has been recognised in this way”

Solace is the representative body for over 1500 strategic managers working in the public sector in the UK. We are committed to promoting public sector excellence. We provide our members with opportunities for personal and professional development and seek to influence debate around the future of public services to ensure that policy and legislation are informed by the experience and expertise of our members. Whilst the vast majority of Solace members work in local government we also have members in senior positions in health authorities, police and fire authorities and central government.

For further information please contact:
Name: Graeme Mcdonald
Title: Managing Director of Solace
t: 0207 233 0081
e: graeme.mcdonald@solace.org.uk