New Chief Executive takes up job.

The Highland Council’s new Chief Executive, Steve Barron, took over at the helm of the organisation today (Monday 2 September 2013).
 
He replaces Alistair Dodds, who has retired after 22 years with the Council, the last six as Chief Executive.

Mr Barron said: “There are tremendous opportunities ahead for the people of the Highlands and the main challenge of my job is to make sure we capitalise on these opportunities. There is nowhere else I’d rather be.”

He joined the Council as Director of Housing and Property early in 2008 and has also been Depute Chief Executive since September, 2011.  He had previously worked as managing director of Robertsons Facilities Management, Inverness, for eight years and prior to that 13 years in the health service in Lothian and Highland, where he was Head of Facilities with the former Highland Primary Care Trust.
 
Married with three sons, he was educated at Lochardil Primary School and Inverness Royal Academy.

From today (2 September) Mr Barron’s position as Director of Housing and Property is being filled on an interim basis of four months by Tracey Urry, the Council’s Housing and Property Manager for Inverness, Nairn and Badenoch and Lochaber.

Mr Barron will use this period of four months to review the way Council services are delivered.