Mike Kelly is currently the Deputy Chief Executive and he will replace Mark Sanders who announced his plans to take early retirement in September.

Mike’s appointment is a key step in the wider restructure of the Chief Executive’s Department, which will generate £500,000 savings for the forthcoming financial year.

Mike Kelly has worked at Bury Council since June 2002 and has previously held roles at Oldham Council as Executive Director of Contract Services and also worked at Sefton, Burnley, Middlesbrough, with spells in the private sector in similar senior management roles.

In his current role as Deputy Chief Executive Mike has taken a lead role on service improvement across the council, working to make procurement more cost effective and efficient and has also headed up the operational management of the Chief Executive’s Department at the council.

Over the next few months both Mark and Mike will be working closely together to ensure that the council manages the financial and operational challenges ahead. They will continue to work to develop budget savings for the next financial year and ensure the successful approval of the budget at council on 23 February. Mike will in the coming months take on a more developed role as part of the council’s transformation agenda.

Mike Kelly, Chief Executive Designate, said: “I want to thank all the Councillors for their unanimous support for my appointment. I am pleased and delighted to be the next Chief Executive of Bury Council. However, I recognise that there are significant and difficult challenges which lie ahead. I will be working with the Leader, Cabinet and wider management team to make sure that this handover process is as smooth as possible and that we have continued stability as we work through these challenging times”. 

Mark Sanders, the outgoing Chief Executive said: “I have worked closely with Mike for a number of years on many of the key issues which we have faced at Bury. We have a close working relationship and I am confident that I will leave Bury in a safe pair of hands which will be able to capably manage the challenges which lie ahead to help ensure the best possible outcomes for the local community”. 

For further information please contact Peter Doherty or Ellie Langton in the Council Press Office on 0161 253 6096 or 5394. Alternatively please email communications@bury.gov.uk