News

Durham University Governing Council Member Becomes New Chief Executive of Durham County Council

(7 April 2005)

Mark Lloyd, at 37 years, has just been appointed the new Chief executive of Durham County Council, the largest local authority of the North East.

A member of the University Council since 2001, he is one of two representatives appointed by Durham County Council, and in that capacity he is also a member of the Health and Safety Policy Committee, and chairman of University Council representatives in Grey College Council.

Mr Lloyd will take up the post at the end of June when the current Chief Executive, Kingsley Smith, retires after 17 years in office.

The appointment of Mr Lloyd, a current Deputy Chief Executive of the Council, as his successor, was announced on 6 April.

Vice-Chancellor of the University, Sir Kenneth Calman, has sent Mr Lloyd his warmest congratulations on obtaining his new post, thanking him for all his interest, advice and support. “I am sure fellow members of the University Council together with the staff and students of Grey College will join me in wishing you every success in the role.”

A native of Shropshire, Mark Lloyd joined the County Council in July 2000 as Director of Economic Development and Planning, and Managing Director of the County Durham Development Company.

He was made Deputy Chief Executive in 2003 and as the chief officer with special responsibility for policy and strategy has been a leading figure in the management of the Council in recent years.

Although the main focus of Mr Lloyd’s work has been economic regeneration and business support, he has also played a leading role in helping local communities to prosper, overseeing a wide-range of community development and regeneration activities.

He led the Council’s approach to local government reorganisation and the regional assembly referendum and was instrumental in the Council’s successful efforts to achieve its current “excellent” CPA rating.

As well as contributing to a wide range of economic and business advisory groups at regional level, Mark also chairs the County Durham Youth Engagement Service, is a member of the board of the County Durham Foundation.

Mr Lloyd’s early career included a spell with the Employment Service where he became part of a small development team which helped to launch the Powys Training and Enterprise council in 1990-91. He stayed with that organisation until leaving in 1993, having risen to acting Chief Executive.

After selection for the Civil Service ‘Fast Stream’, which identifies individuals with potential to rise quickly to senior management positions, he returned to the TEC organisation in 1994 as Director of Education and Training for the Central England TEC.

He later became Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Operations for the Bolton and Bury Chamber and Business link, before taking up his position with County Durham TEC in May 1999, where his responsibilities as Chief Executive included membership of the County’s Economic Development Partnership and Strategic Lifelong Learning Partnership and a number of other regional and county groups concerned with regeneration, business support and skills development.

He lives in Sedgefield, and his interests include marathon running, skiing, travel and the theatre.

Current Chief Executive Kingsley Smith said, “Mark Lloyd has proved himself an outstanding chief officer for the County Council and was an equally outstanding candidate as my successor.”

“He is absolutely committed to making County Durham the best place in which to live, work, invest and raise a family, and his appointment will afford valuable continuity to the work of the County Council.”

“I look forward to working closely with mark over the next few months before I retire, and I am sure that he will prove to be and outstanding chief executive.”

Mr Lloyd’s appointment as chief Executive is still subject to confirmation by the full County Council.

As reported by Durham County Council