Law firm boosts public sector team with hire of long-serving local authority chief executive as consultant

Law firm Geldards has appointed Frank McArdle, former chief executive of South Derbyshire District Council, as a consultant in its Public Sector team.

McArdle was chief executive of South Derbyshire for 24 years. He retired in March after more than 40 years of service at the local authority.

He previously held the role of Head of Legal & Democratic Services at the same authority as well as the posts of Director of the South Derbyshire Local Strategic Partnership, Member of the Board of the East Midland Freeport and Chair of the Council’s Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Group.

McArdle joined Geldards at the start of the month.

Geldards has been appointed to many of the major public sector legal frameworks in the country including EM Lawshare, North West Legal Consortium and the Welsh Government Commercial Delivery panels.

Geldards’ Chairman David Williams said: “I’m delighted that someone of Frank’s calibre and reputation will be joining our Public Sector team. The team have experienced significant success and growth in recent years and Frank’s expertise and insight gained from a 40-year career at South Derbyshire District Council will be invaluable in maintaining that success and reputation as Public Sector specialists.”

McArdle said: “I am looking forward to adding my many years’ experience in local government to the Public Sector team at Geldards.”