West of England Mayoral Combined Authority has announced that Stephen Peacock has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer.
Currently holding the role of Chief Executive of Bristol City Council, Stephen is an experienced leader across local government. Having been Bristol’s Executive Director for Growth and Regeneration, he has been responsible for projects such as the City Leap decarbonisation programme, the Temple Quarter regeneration, and a programme for council house building.
Speaking about his appointment, Stephen said:
“It has been a pleasure and a privilege to serve the citizens of Bristol during nearly five years with the council, including the past 18 months as Chief Executive. I wish to thank the Mayor of Bristol for his consistent support during this time and to all at the council for their dedication to their roles. Having worked alongside Richard over the past couple of years on delivering our organisations’ shared goals for the region, I also wish to thank him for his efforts and support during his time at the Combined Authority.
“I look forward to the opportunity to continue the collaborative efforts across our region to ensure the West of England is a place people are proud to live, work and invest in. This is a region of huge potential, as recognised by the substantial investment secured for jobs, skills, transport, and homes. Working together with the mayor, our partner authorities, and the political leadership in the region, we aim to build on the success already achieved and grow a thriving and sustainable region for all.”
In the period before Stephen begins his new role, current CEO Richard Ennis will continue as interim, with this enabling a smooth handover. Ennis’ achievements with the combined authority include overseeing the delivery of the Portway Park and Ride, the opening of the first new train station in almost 100 years, and the establishment of the Joint Delivery Vehicle to support the Bristol Temple Quarter development.
Mayor of the West of England, Dan Norris, also commented:
“I’m pleased to welcome Stephen Peacock to the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority as our next Chief Executive.
“Stephen impressed all of those involved in what was a rigorous selection process with his vision and passion for the region, his experience and, crucially, his determination to get things done.
“This was a unanimous decision of myself and the West of England council leaders.
“Delivering for local people facing a cost-of-living crisis and an environmental emergency is the focus of the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority. We look forward to working with Stephen as we strive to improve jobs, skills, transport, and the environment.”
Image credit: West of England Combined Authority
