ESSEX County Council Chief Executive Joanna Killian has resigned.

The one-time highest paid official in the public sector is moving to the private sector.

She is due to take up a role at KPMG.

Leader David Finch said: “Joanna Killian has been an exemplar Chief Executive during a period when Essex County Council has proved itself to be an exemplar of effective, efficient administration.

“Joanna has helped deliver a council tax freeze for the fifth successive year, alongside some £450 million of savings.

“Her leadership and undoubted skill in steering the council through the challenging times which have confronted all public services cannot be doubted; I am personally grateful for everything she has done and achieved in Essex, and I wish her every success in the next stage of her career.

Mrs Killian said: “Deciding to leave Essex County Council was the hardest decision of my career but after nearly nine years as Chief Executive, I feel the time is right for a change and there are exciting challenges presented by my new role.

“Public services are facing huge challenges and will continue to do so.

“I know that I am leaving Essex in good hands and in good shape to face those challenges in the future. I will cherish my time here which has undoubtedly been the highlight of my career.”

No timetable has yet been established for Joanna Killian’s departure from ECC.

She will join audit, tax and advisory services company KPMG as a partner in its UK Government and Public Services Practice.

A spokesman for KPMG said: "KPMG can confirm the appointment of Joanna Killian as a Partner in the firm’s Local Government practice.

"Joanna joins KPMG from the Essex County Council, where she was Chief Executive, with overall responsibility for major programmes of change, reducing operating costs and delivering improved services. "

 

CAREER BIOGRAPHY

Joanna Killian joined Essex County Council in September 2006 having been acting head since June.

She previously worked with the audit commission and had a background in public housing.

She was also head of paid service and carried out several major reviews and projects locally and nationally during her eight-and-a-half years in charge including:

• Leading a planning review of Essex in 2008

• As a member of the Treasury independent challenge team ahead of the Government’s first comprehensive spending review in 2010.

• As a member of an independent NHS forum ahead of the Health and Social Care Bill in 2011.

• Chairing the Essex Chief Executives’ Association.

• Chairing the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers) in October 2012.

• Leading transformation programme to cut more than £500million of annual County Hall budget.

While Chief Executive she was in charge of annual combined budgets of more than £1billion, with more than 35,000 employees including those at schools.

She had a basic wage of £210,000, about £70,000 more than the Prime Minister, and with pension benefits and bonuses picked up more than £235,000 last year.

This was despite taking voluntary pay cuts totalling £27,000 in the past few years.

At its peak, including the work she did running Brentwood Council, she was the highest paid civil servant in the UK earning more than £270,000.

Her pay was not the only controversy during her reign.

She was in charge during the scandals which engulfed the council concerning former leader Lord Hanningfield and his use of expenses.

She was also criticised for her own use of corporate credit cards.

More to follow.