Big salary cut for Islington Town Hall's new boss Lesley Seary

Published: 8th April, 2011
by ANDREW JOHNSON

THE Town Hall’s new boss has been confirmed as Lesley Seary, who will take up her duties as chief executive of Islington in June, when current chief John Foster steps down after 40 years’ service, writes Andrew Johnson.

Ms Seary will be   paid £160,000 a year, £50,000 less than her predecessor and as the borough’s top civil servant she will have to oversee the £100m cuts to services over the next four years along with the elected political leader of the Town Hall, Catherine West.

It is the third time Ms Seary has applied for the job. She is currently working for Lewisham council as director for customer services and has spent 25 years in the public sector.

In a recent interview the new chief executive said she was not a “table thumper”.

“I’ve never found that worked with my kids,” she said, “so I don’t think it will with anyone else. 

“Having a clear strategy is obviously important but even more than that you need to be a people person.”