Rob Whiteman

Chief Executive

Rob Whiteman to take up new national role|

The council's Chief Executive will be leaving his post in May 2010 to take up a top job with the Improvement and Development Agency.

Rob Whiteman joined Barking and Dagenham Council as Chief Executive in January 2005.

In 2008-09 the Council piloted both the new wave of Local Area Agreements and the Comprehensive Area Assessment. Barking and Dagenham's swift improvement from 2 stars (improving adequately) to the dual top rating of 4 stars (excellent) with 'improving strongly' direction of travel by 2008 was recognized by several awards, including in 2008 the Most Improved Council of the Year and Beacon status for Tackling Climate Change.

Rob is a well known commentator and writer on public service reform and modernisation on a wide range of areas such as leadership, partnership working across local and central government, and building community cohesion.

In 2008 he was named one of the 10 most influential people in local government by Local Government Chronicle.

In 2007 and 2009 he carried out the Capability Reviews of the Department of Health for the Cabinet Office.

Graduating with a BA (Hons) in Economics and Government from the University of Essex, Rob started his management career at WH Smith plc before moving into the public sector.

An accountant by profession he held several local government finance advisory roles for the Local Government Association and Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy and for many years served as Secretary to the Society of London Treasurers.

In terms of national work, Rob is presently concentrating on 3 main areas of regional and national development:

The skills/worklessness agenda and the need for more public sector apprenticeships, Rob is a member of the London Apprentices Task Force, the 14-19 Regional Planning Group for London, and the Apprenticeships Ambassadors Network
Using Local Area Agreements and the new regulatory regime of the Comprehensive Area Assessment to promote greater innovation through devolution to localities. Rob is a member of the Leadership Coalition between Whitehall and the Local Government Association which promotes the new performance framework for local government. He is also a board member of NESTA's (National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts) innovation lab, and a member of the government's Innovators' Council
Promoting sustainable industries through the application of new technologies and associated skills/jobs. In September 2009 Rob was appointed a non Executive Director of DECC (Director of Department of Energy and Climate Change) and Chair of the Audit Committee

Rob is chair of the Chief Executives' London Committee and a board member of Capital Ambition, London's Regional Improvement and Efficiency Partnership.

In his spare time, Rob has carried out many public duties such as a Justice of the Peace, school governor and assisting local charities.

Chief Executive's Office|

This office is responsible for progress chasing, improvements in the management of our staff, services and operations, as well as supporting the Chief Executive to set the strategic direction for the authority with elected councillors and partners.

Rob Whiteman