Deborah Cadman to leave the city council

Birmingham City Council has today announced that Deborah Cadman OBE will stand down as Chief Executive on 22nd March 2024 after almost three years in charge.

Deborah Cadman OBE said: “When I was appointed as Chief Executive in March 2021, I was given a very clear brief of delivering the Commonwealth Games and I am proud that these were an outstanding success, with Birmingham 2022 considered as one of the best ever. It was always my intention to leave the council once the budget (2024/25) was agreed, and we had a clear route to recovery and improvement. Having secured that approval and having led on the development of the council’s new Improvement and Recovery Plan, I feel that now is the right time to hand over the baton to a new Chief Executive.

"I am of course incredibly disappointed with the council’s current financial position and the challenges that have arisen due to historic Equal Pay issues and the failed implementation of Oracle. I joined the council after a period of significant volatility that saw the organisation have four Chief Executives in only two years. I have endeavoured to bring stability to the organisation including making permanent appointments to senior roles such as the Directors of Children’s Services and Housing, which has led to improvements in performance. I am pleased that Birmingham is one of the few places that has received ‘Good’ ratings in both Adults and Children’s Social Care. I have also worked hard to bring significant new investment into the city, and I am confident that the groundbreaking ‘Our Future City Plan’ will create the high-quality jobs and homes that Birmingham desperately needs.

"It has been the honour of my life to be the Chief Executive of the city in which I was born and raised. I wish my colleagues every success in transforming the council into one that this great city deserves.”

Leader of Birmingham City Council, Councillor John Cotton said: “Deborah has led the council as Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service over the course of the last three years. Her commitment and contribution have been acknowledged by staff, partners and government. These have been incredibly difficult times and no one can doubt Deborah’s commitment to the council, the city and the region.”

Lead Commissioner Max Caller CBE said: “It is very challenging working with Commissioners under a Statutory Intervention, and Deborah has responded effectively over the last six months. I wish Deborah well for the future as she continues her long and distinguished career in public service.”

Professor Graeme Betts CBE, Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Adult Social Care, will act up into the role of Chief Executive as plans are developed to secure a permanent replacement.