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| Erika Wenzel |
Cheshire East Council which will replace Macclesfield Borough Council in April 2009, has named Erika Wenzel as its first chief executive.
Erika is currently the Executive Director (Neighbourhood and Community Services) at Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council, a post she has held since February 2004. Erika, who is 48, has worked for Tameside MBC for 19 years. Initially from a finance background, she has held a variety of posts, including Benefits Manager, Chief Revenues Officer, Assistant Director of Finance, and Head of Exchequer & Community Services in Tameside, prior to which she worked for Stockport Borough Council.
Council Leader Wesley Fitzgerald says: “After two days of intense assessment, I have complete confidence that the final selection of Erika Wenzel will provide Cheshire East with a person with the right experience and the personal attributes to form this Council, and provide high-standard services for everyone who lives or works in the new Cheshire East.
“This is a unique challenge - the setting-up of a council and then the efficient launch of services from 1 April 2009. Erika Wenzel is exactly the right person to work with me as Leader and all Members to turn this challenge into a great success."
Of her appointment, Erika says: “It is an honour and a privilege to be part of the newly-formed Cheshire East unitary Council in what promise to be exciting times. The area certainly has a bright future ahead and I am looking forward to being part of shaping that future.
“Obviously, it goes without saying, that I will miss Tameside and all the staff I have worked with over the years terribly. It was always going to be hard leaving such a high-performing authority - a fact I will always be immensely proud of - but this was too good an opportunity to turn down.”
Erika, who lives in Wilmslow, hails from Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, and is married with an 18-year-old daughter. Her appointment was ratified at a meeting of the full Council on Wednesday 30 July at the Municipal Buildings, Crewe. She expects to take up her role in October on a date to be agreed.
For more details on the new council please click on this link: http://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/
