Simpson formally resigns as GMCA chief exec
Caroline Simpson has worked her last day as the chief executive of the Greater Manchester Combined Authority and Transport for Greater Manchester, taking up a key role in Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s No10 North.
A statement from the GMCA, sent on the day Burnham held his first meetings from the Westminster outpost at Heron House in Albert Square, confirmed she had resigned and left the role she held for two years.
Simpson had already handed over returning officer duties ahead of the mayoral by-election on 30 July, in which Manchester City Council Leader Cllr Bev Craig is a heavy favourite to win with bookmakers.
Focus for now is on that election and no timeline has been set to appoint a successor for Simpson.
John Wrathmell, group head of strategy at the GMCA and a former Labour Party head of economic policy, has been seconded to No10 North for 12 months.
GMCA managing director Andrew Lightfoot is interim chief executive, the GMCA confirmed.
A GMCA spokesperson said: “Caroline Simpson has resigned from her role as group chief executive and left Greater Manchester Combined Authority. She had already stepped back from her role as combined authority returning officer and formally handed over all election responsibilities.
“Deputy group chief executive Andrew Lightfoot, the managing director of GMCA, has taken on interim leadership. This includes Combined Authority Returning Officer duties for the Mayoral by-election.
“Arrangements are in place to ensure the continued smooth running of GMCA, as well as Transport for Greater Manchester and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service under their current leadership.”
Simpson’s resignation draws a line under speculation about when she might make the transition to national government as Burnham’s deputy chief of staff. Staff within the GMCA expressed uncertainty about the situation to the Manchester Evening News last week.
Simpson was tipped to follow Burnham into national government as soon as he won the Makerfield by-election.
She had been Burnham’s right hand at GMCA ever since she took on the role of chief executive in the summer of 2024, succeeding Eamonn Boylan.
Prior to that she had been the chief executive of Stockport Council, where she spent eight years. In addition to her role at Stockport, Simpson previously held senior posts at Cheshire East Council and is the former head of regeneration and partnerships at the Northwest Regional Development Agency.
