Moray Council announces John Mundell OBE as interim chief executive
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MORAY Council has announced the appointment of an interim chief executive who will take over from the departing Roddy Burns.
John Mundell OBE will start the role in May, taking on the post alongside Roddy Burns for a three-week handover period before taking up the reins for a period between six and 18 months.
A panel made up of the council leader and group leaders, advised by an external technical adviser and head of human resources, interviewed for the position on Monday, March 25.
The process of appointing a permanent chief executive will begin later this year.
On his appointment, John, who was awarded an OBE in 2016 for services to local government, said: “I’m very much looking forward to getting to know the staff at Moray Council and taking up the post of their interim chief executive from May.
“Moray is an area of great beauty and potential and I am keen to get stuck into working with colleagues to help achieve the clear ambitions for the region.
“In the meantime, I will be arranging to meet with members, my new colleagues, partners and representatives of Moray’s communities to listen first-hand to what is going well and where further improvements are needed.
“As with all large organisations, there is room for improvement, but the foundations of a great local authority are evident and I look forward to building on that over the coming months.”
Council Leader Kathleen Robertson (Forres, Conservative), added: “I, and colleagues across the chamber, very much look forward to welcoming John to Moray Council and working with him to press on with the transformation aspirations we have for the area.”
John is currently completing support for two councils, one in Scotland and one in Northern Ireland on a consultancy basis.
Prior to this, he worked as the Interim Chief Executive for Orkney Islands Council from 2019 to 2023.
He has provided assistance to several councils across the UK since retiring from Inverclyde Council as Chief Executive in September 2016, after more than 10 years in the role.
John started his career as a trainee civil engineer in the City Engineers Department of Edinburgh Corporation in 1974.
From 1979, he advanced through various Civil Engineering roles including Divisional Roads Surveyor up to Commercial Manager for roads within Lothian Regional Council during the Compulsory Competitive Tendering era.
In 1993, he joined Central Regional Council as Head of Central Contracts with a wider remit and, from 1995, he was a Strategic Director for East Dunbartonshire Council’s frontline and technical services until his departure to join Inverclyde in 2006.
