Highland Council has appointed the first three of eight new executive chief officer positions.
The roles replace more expensive director of service roles as part of the council’s drive to reduce management layers.
Liz Denovan will take up her appointment as executive chief officer – resources and finance,next month, while Carron McDiarmid will become executive chief officer – customer and communities in September.
Lesley Weber will take up her post as executive chief officer – health and social care at the end of September.
Liz Denovan has worked in both local government and the charity sector for the past thirty years.
She is currently director of finance and operations at EMMS International (a Christian international healthcare charity) and was previously corporate finance manager with East Lothian Council and chief accountant at Clackmannanshire Council.
She said: “I look forward to leading and delivering the transformational change agenda creating a sustainable Highland Council.
“I welcome the opportunity to work with the communities to enable improved locally informed decision making, ensuring effective use of our resources in these financially challenging times.”
Carron McDiarmid has been a head of service in Highland Council for 14 years, leading on several areas of corporate policy, performance, community engagement, change and redesign projects.
She is currently the interim chief officer (resources) for community services and will continue in this role until further executive chief officer appointments are made.
She started out as a graduate trainee in housing in Ross and Cromarty district council and has worked in other public bodies and the civil service.
She said: “There is a lot of good practice and community innovation to build on and opportunities to do even more.”
Lesley Weber is currently service manager with Hackney Council’s children and families services leading on domestic abuse and violence towards women and girls.
She was previously a senior clinical social worker with Tavistock & Portman NHS Family Drug and Alcohol Court, senior social worker with Islington Council and social worker with Ealing Council.
She grew up in Orkney and spent four years working in children’s residential units in Renfrewshire.
She said: “I hope to bring with me not only the wealth of professional experience I have gained over the last 16 years but also my passion for working with and getting to know communities and the wider professional partnership.
Highland Council leader Margaret Davidson said: “The posts will each have responsibility for a geographical area which will help to enhance local visibility and enable the council to become better connected to communities at a local level.”
Five further executive chief officer posts to be recruited over the coming months.
Their salaries are £91,196 and the council says the new structure will deliver savings.