Torbay Council names lawyer as chief executive and head of paid service

An extraordinary meeting of Torbay Council has unanimously appointed solicitor Anne-Marie Bond as the authority’s Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service on a permanent basis.

The appointment follows a recommendation from Torbay’s employment committee on 25 March.

Ms Bond has been the council’s interim chief executive since 1 August 2020.

She was Head of Legal Services at Torbay from September 1999 to May 2015, when she became Assistant Director – Corporate and Commercial. In November 2017 she was appointed Director of Corporate Services and Operations.

Cllr Darling, Leader of Torbay Council and the Liberal Democrat Group, said: “I have worked with Anne-Marie for many years and am looking forward to working with her as she takes up the position of permanent Chief Executive.

“Throughout her time as interim Chief Executive, Anne-Marie has demonstrated her great leadership skills as we navigated our way through the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only that she has also started to put in place the building blocks that are required to take the Council forward into the future”.

Cllr Mike Morey, Independent Group, said: “Anne-Marie is highly valued by both members of staff and across our partner organisations. Her skills and experience of enabling and engaging people will be invaluable as we seek to build even stronger partnerships with our local communities”. 

Cllr Chris Lewis of the Conservative Group said: “We want to ensure the Council is as efficient and effective as possible. Anne-Marie has considerable local government knowledge and experience and has an incredible understanding of Torbay and the workings of the Council as we move forward with transforming services and building a resilient Council that is fit for the future”.

Anne-Marie Bond said: “I feel incredibly honoured to have been appointed as the council’s permanent Chief Executive. I am truly passionate about Torbay, and together with all my colleagues am committed to providing the very best services to all of Torbay’s residents.”