Paul Martin has been appointed as the interim chief executive of Newham Council following a full meeting of the council on 17 July.
Martin started the next day, after the sudden departure of Abi Gbago, the previous chief executive.
Gbago, who had been in post for almost two years, was asked to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) upon resigning, and was awarded a £230,000 payoff in a ‘secret’ meeting.
A statement issued by the council on 17 July indicated that Gbago was “planning to take a career break and spend time with her daughter”.
There is no indication of wrongdoing on her part.
Martin has a big job on his hands at the troubled local authority, which is in severe financial difficulty.
In May, the government issued Newham Council with a ‘best value notice’ – an instruction to improve – citing serious issues and weaknesses in governance and culture, as well as a damning inspection into its housing in October 2024.
Speaking at a full council meeting on 14 May, Newham mayor Rokhsana Fiaz said the council had “accepted the non-statutory best value notice immediately because accountability is not something we avoid, it’s something we own”.
Martin will be the sixth person to hold the chief executive role in seven years.
He previously held chief executive posts at Peterborough City, Sutton, Richmond upon Thames and Wandsworth councils.
More recently he has been called in to serve as interim chief executive at the Government of Jersey as well as at Ealing and Bristol City councils.
Mayor Fiaz said: “Paul is amongst the most experienced Chief Executives in local government and I am delighted that he will be joining us in Newham. His experience and wisdom will be a huge benefit to the council as we accelerate our improvement programme, respond to our Best Value Notice and deliver on our commitment to building a fairer Newham.”
Martin said: “I’m looking forward to joining Newham as its interim Chief Executive and getting started immediately.
"Newham Council has many strengths and some significant challenges. I’m looking forward to working with Mayor Fiaz and her cabinet, and all councillors, and to meeting Council staff and supporting them in their work to deliver good services to Newham residents in a culture of continuous improvement.
"In the many places I have worked, I have learnt that collaboration is at the heart of an effective council. I will foster teamwork in all parts of the council and focus on the needs of Newham’s residents”.
