New interim chief executive at Croydon council

By Tara O’Connor, Local Democracy Reporter

A new interim chief executive of Croydon council has been announced following the sudden departure of Jo Negrini.

Katherine Kerswell will take up the post from Monday, with a salary of £192,474.

She joins the council at a difficult time as it faces a financial crisis, predicting a £65 million overspend this year and when it cannot rule out declaring effective bankruptcy.

On August 27 Croydon council announced that Ms Negrini was leaving the council.

Since then, Shifa Mustafa, Croydon’s executive director of place, has stepped up to the chief executive role until an interim was found.

Ms Kerswell said: “Like many local authorities across the country Croydon is facing unprecedented challenges, taking on significant extra responsibilities as part of the Covid-19 response while maintaining those essential public services on which so many depend.

“I look forward to working closely with Croydon’s members, staff, partners and residents as we meet these challenges head-on, making sure we continue to support our communities, while working to create a sustainable future for Croydon.”