Ex-chief planner Quartermain joins Cratus
The Government’s former chief planner Steve Quartermain has been appointed as a senior associate at PR firm Cratus Communications, after standing down as a civil servant in March.
Quarterman has joined the local government specialist communications company in a thought leadership, strategic and advisory role.
He will aim to provide Cratus and Cratus’ clients with strategic advice as one of a group of advisors drawn from across local and national government.
The group also includes Dame Mary Ney, former chief executive of the Royal Borough of Greenwich in London; Julia Potts, former leader of Waverley Council; Ada Burns, former chief executive of Darlington Council, and Bill Alexander, a construction and civil engineering industry veteran.
Quartermain stepped down as chief planner at the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government in March after 12 years in the role.
During that time, he was responsible for overhauling the national planning system, including leading on the design and implementation of the National Planning Planning Framework, and raising the profile of planning within central Government.
Prior to his role as chief planner, Quartermain spent 30 years working in various planning roles within local government, including at Hambleton Council and at Epping Forest, and was also president of the Planning Officers Society.
He said: “I have always had a passion for planning and after twelve years as chief planner I am looking forward to continuing to play a role in making places better.”
Nick Kilby, chief executive of Cratus, added: “In Steve’s last communication as chief planner to local authorities, he gave a clear vision of what was expected of [councils]…and will be looking to helping them deliver in his new role with us.
“The pressure on planning departments has never been greater, and Steve will be leading our work in supporting local authorities in delivering the new homes that will remain a national priority for many years to come.”
Earlier this year, Cratus appointed Sean Anstee, former leader of Trafford Council, as an executive director, tasking him with launching a Manchester outpost of the London-headquartered firm.
