Kipling lined up for top Oldham role
Filling in as acting chief executive since October, Shelley Kipling will take on the council’s senior officer role full-time.
Kipling was the unanimous choice of a cross-party appointments committee for the position, following a selection process the council said attracted a “range of high-calibre candidates”.
Titled ‘chief executive designate’ for the time being, her name will go forward for ratification by full council on 6 March.
Leader of Oldham Council, Cllr Arooj Shah, said: “The coming years will be so important for Oldham as we drive forward our plans to regenerate and transform our borough, continue to improve our vital public services, and work with our partners and residents to create a better Oldham.
“I can think of no one better than Shelley to work alongside me as we lead this crucial work to set a clear vision for the future of Oldham, deliver a new era of public service, and restore pride and hope to our wonderful borough.”
At the heart of Oldham’s next wave of regeneration thinking is the Oldham Town Living project, on which a consultation is now live, with six projects proposed across the town centre.
Kipling stepped up to acting chief executive in October when Harry Catherall was approached to become interim chief executive at Tameside Council, which had been troubled by a spate of resignations by key members.
Catherall, a local government veteran of 40 years-plus, had come out of retirement to run Oldham in 2021.
Kipling said: “I am so proud to work for Oldham – a place I love – and being given this opportunity to serve Oldhamers at such an important time for our borough is an honour. It’s also a privilege to do this alongside a fantastic workforce who work every single day to make the lives of Oldham people better.
“It is an exciting moment to be part of Oldham’s story. From regeneration and transformation across the borough, new homes, new jobs, new opportunities, our services continuing to improve, a budget which is stabilised and a renewed sense of purpose for a place that has made it clear we will no longer be left behind, Oldham’s time truly is now.
“There is a real strength present in Oldham which, if we work together collectively to maximise and amplify, will make us unstoppable.”
Kipling started her career in local government in 2003 before joining Oldham Council in 2009 and becoming head of communications, in which capacity she moved to Manchester City Council in 2015.
She returned to Oldham in 2019 as assistant director for strategy, performance and communications, being promoted to assistant chief executive in 2021.
