New Herefordshire Council Chief Executive takes up role
Herefordshire Council’s new Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service, Paul Satoor, will formally take up the role on Friday 26 June. Mr Satoor takes over from incumbent Chief Executive Paul Walker, who steps down on Thursday after five years in the role. Mr Satoor’s appointment was confirmed on 1 May by full council following a comprehensive recruitment process.
Cllr Jonathan Lester, Leader of Herefordshire Council, said: “I am delighted to welcome Paul as he formally takes up the role of Chief Executive of Herefordshire Council. Through a rigorous recruitment process, we sought an exceptional candidate with the experience, skills and values needed at this important time for the council. The employment panel, made up of members from across political groups, recognised Paul’s outstanding track record and is confident he will be a real asset as we continue to modernise services and provide excellent and efficient public services. I look forward to working with Paul as he drives delivery of the Council Plan for the benefit of residents and businesses across the county.”
Paul Satoor said: “I am proud to be taking up the role of Chief Executive at Herefordshire Council and to be joining the organisation at such an important time. It is clear that the Council and county have much to be proud of, alongside significant opportunities for the future. I am keen to build on the strong progress already made and help lead the next phase of improvement. I look forward to working with the Leader, Cabinet, members, staff and partners to deliver excellent public services, support our most vulnerable residents and make a positive difference for communities across Herefordshire.”
The transition follows Mr Walker’s announcement last September that he would be stepping down, having joined the council in 2021. During his tenure, he oversaw a period of significant progress and improvement, including strengthening the council’s financial position and delivering major investment in infrastructure and key services. This was most notable in the transformation of children’s services, which went from “inadequate” in 2022 to being rated ‘good’, with ‘outstanding’ leadership by Ofsted.
The council’s progress was also independently recognised through the Local Government Association’s Corporate Peer Challenge, which described Herefordshire as a ‘good council’ with strong leadership and a clear ambition to improve further. Since that assessment, the council has continued to deliver, including balancing its budget despite reductions in central government funding, investing in roads, transport and housing, and progressing major projects such as the Hereford Transport Hub, Ross Enterprise Park, a new public realm service and the Hereford Bypass.
Paul Walker said: “It has been an honour to serve as Chief Executive of Herefordshire Council and a real privilege to work alongside councillors, staff and partners across the county. I am proud of what we have achieved together over the past five years. We have strengthened the council’s finances, improved key services and helped create the conditions for growth and investment in Herefordshire. Significant progress has been made on major infrastructure and regeneration projects that will support jobs, homes and opportunities for residents for years to come, while at the same time improving services for those who rely on us most. Herefordshire is a county with enormous opportunity, and I leave confident that the Council is in a strong position to build on this momentum, deliver its ambitions and help create an even brighter future for communities and businesses across the county.”
Cllr Lester added: “As we welcome Paul Satoor to Herefordshire, I also want to place on record my sincere thanks to Paul Walker for his outstanding service over the past five years. As Chief Executive, Paul steered the council through a period of significant challenge and transformation, leaving the organisation in a far stronger position than when he first arrived. Under his tenure, we have strengthened our financial resilience, delivered major investment in infrastructure and services, and achieved real progress in key areas such as children’s services. On behalf of the administration, I would like to thank Paul for his dedication, professionalism and commitment to the county, and to wish him every success for the future.”