Legally-qualified strategic director named joint chief executive of two councils

Arthur Charvonia, a qualified barrister and currently Strategic Director at Suffolk Coastal and Waveney District Councils, is set to be appointed Joint Chief Executive of Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils.

Charvonia was selected by a cross party Joint Appointment Panel as their preferred candidate.

Both Babergh and Mid Suffolk will be invited to endorse this recommendation at full council meetings today (31 October).

Charvonia originally worked in London practising family, housing, licensing, criminal and immigration law.  Since then, he has worked at Norfolk Constabulary, as well as the London Borough of Waltham Forest, before joining Waveney and Suffolk Coastal District Councils.

He has worked in local government for the last 11 years and been a Strategic Director for eight years. He has spent the last six years as a joint Strategic Director of Suffolk Coastal and Waveney.

In a joint statement, Cllr Jennie Jenkins, Leader of Babergh, and Cllr Nick Gowrley, Leader of Mid Suffolk, said: “All the candidates went through a rigorous two day recruitment process and the standard was very high. However, Arthur quickly emerged as the candidate with precisely the right combination of skills and expertise needed to ensure we continue to break new ground with the vision in our Joint Strategic Plan and the implementation of our ambitious and exciting Public Access Strategy.

“In addition to this, the cross party appointment group felt Arthur’s experience of joint working across two district councils, and the wider Suffolk Public Sector family, made him the ideal candidate to lead our two councils through the many challenges and opportunities ahead.”

Charvonia said: “I am delighted to be selected to join Babergh and Mid Suffolk District Councils at this exciting time. My recent experience at Suffolk Coastal and Waveney puts me in an ideal place to help lead the councils through the challenges of building on their successful partnership, as well as the forthcoming move to a new headquarters.

“I obviously bring with me an in-depth knowledge of working in local government within Suffolk and have a proven track-record of providing improved services to local people in a difficult financial climate.”

He added: “I am committed to working with my new colleagues, to engage with and listen to local residents to identify their needs and ambitions. We need to deliver improved services to our communities in innovative and accessible ways.”