Driving forward improvement is the aim of Wokingham Borough’s just-appointed interim chief executive Andy Couldrick.

Taking up the post on Monday (December 5), Andy said: "I am proud and excited to have been given this opportunity. Much has been achieved in the Wokingham borough under Susan Law’s tenure as chief executive. My job will be to build on the achievements to date and to support councillors and officers to continue in moving the borough council forward. The talent and commitment within the council will undoubtedly help us to secure success and I look forward to the challenge ahead."

Susan Law left the council at the end of November. In order to continue with its Transformation programme, the council decided to appoint an interim chief executive, maintaining stability and providing continuity. After an internal recruitment process Andy Couldrick, previously the council’s strategic director of people services and general manager – children’s services, was announced as the interim chief executive.

Since joining the council in July 2009, Andy has led the borough’s children’s services through a period of rapid change and improvement, with ever more successful inspection results and, more importantly, strong outcomes for its young people. He has also been an integral part of the council’s strategic management team.

Before joining Wokingham Borough Council, Andy was head of service, children and families at Oxfordshire County Council. He has over 27 years’ experience in local government, having originally qualified as a social worker. He has worked at West Berkshire Council, Milton Keynes Council and Reading Borough Council.  In his early career, he spent 16 years at Berkshire County Council holding posts of residential care officer, care manager and social worker and assistant area manager.

Council leader Cllr David Lee said: "Andy’s experience in improving children’s services and building and developing a team will be very valuable to us in the coming period. I am confident that Andy will lead us through these challenging times and I wish him every success in this role."

Andy will be continuing to hold the statutory director of children’s services role.