Commissioners

The Commissioners have been appointed for two years from 22 March 2022 to 22 March 2024 or such earlier or later time as the Secretary of State determines. The Secretary of State has determined that the Commissioners will remain in place only as long as necessary. 

Sandwell Council is developing a single consolidated improvement plan, and the Commissioners will report progress to the Secretary of State. It is the intention that the Commissioners will only use the powers available to them as a last resort, and that decisions will continue to be made by Sandwell Council.

Kim Bromley-Derry CBE DL (Managing Director Commissioner)

Kim has more than 35 years of public sector experience, including 8 years as Chief Executive of the London Borough of Newham. He was also Director of Children’s Services at both the London Borough of Newham and South Tyneside Council and a Children’s Services Director at Leicester City Council. Kim was appointed Interim Chief Executive of Sandwell Council in August 2021 after being temporarily released from his role as Group Director for strategic partnerships at McLaren Construction Group. Kim has also been President of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services and chaired the Government’s Libraries Taskforce.

Jim Taylor (Assistant Commissioner)

Jim served for six years as Chief Executive of Salford City Council prior to his retirement in 2021. He also fulfilled the role of Interim Chief Executive of Trafford Borough Council simultaneously from July 2018 to February 2019. Prior to this Jim was the Chief Executive of Rochdale Council having also served as Director for Children’s Services at Tameside MBC. In June 2021 Jim was appointed by the Secretary of State to undertake an external assurance review of governance at Slough Borough Council.

Chief of Staff

The Commissioners are supported by Chief of Staff Elizabeth Thomas, a civil servant appointed by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.