Liverpool City Council has announced three senior appointments to its senior leadership team, including Chris Buss as acting section 151 officer.
Buss is an experienced finance director who has worked at a number of local authorities, including Wandsworth, Kensington and Chelsea, and Croydon. He succeeds Mel Creighton, who resigned as director of finance and deputy chief executive last month.
Government-appointed commissioners have been running parts of Liverpool City Council since 2021, and there have been more recent concerns about the mishandling of an energy contract.
Supporting Buss will be Ian O’Donnell who will focus on transformation work in finance and procurement. O’Donnell previously worked at Ealing Council as executive director of resources and, most recently, has been carrying out an in-depth review of financial management, improving the procurement function and identifying savings at Croydon Council.
The third arrival is Mark Bourgeois, who joins as interim director for city development. He was most recently managing director for UK and Ireland at property development and investment company Hammerson.
Liverpool City Council issued a statement that welcomed the three new arrivals, adding: “Chris, Ian and Mark bring with them the skills and expertise the council needs to support its ongoing improvement journey and we look forward to working with them over the coming months.”
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