Council chief executive Catherall announces plans to step down by end of year

The chief executive of Oldham council is to leave the authority by the end of the year, it’s been announced.

Harry Catherall, who joined as an interim chief executive in August 2021 before later being made the permanent head of paid service, is retiring.

He was the former chief executive of Blackburn with Darwen borough council and St Helens council, and has a 40 year career in local government.

Mr Catherall replaced Carolyn Wilkins – who left the role after more than 12 years working at the local authority in the months after Councillor Arooj Shah first became council leader two years ago.

The council will now go out to recruit a new permanent chief executive who can take over when Mr Catherall leaves in December.

Paying tribute to his work in the borough, leader Coun Shah said: “Harry Catherall has been an amazing servant to Oldham and I know I speak on behalf of all of us at the council when I say we wish him all the best for his retirement.

“We’ll be looking to start the recruitment process for the new chief executive over the next few weeks, with Harry remaining in post until the end of this year.

“Upon joining us in 2021, Harry was clear that he had returned to public service from retirement and couldn’t stay forever.

“I asked him to stabilise the organisation, to set a clear path for the future as we came out of the pandemic and meet the increasing needs driven by the emerging cost-of-living crisis, and really focus on basic service delivery.

"He’s done all that and more.

“Harry is now already developing a plan to deliver the new priorities I have set out for the town, and will stay to ensure a seamless transition to the new chief executive – ensuring the journey of improvement he has set the borough on will continue uninterrupted.”

After initially joining Oldham council in the summer of 2021, Mr Catherall was then unanimously appointed for a further three years from April 1, 2022, by a cross party council committee.

In January, 2022, when news of the three-year appointment extension was announced, Oldham Council Leader Coun Shah said: "Harry’s three year fixed term appointment offers the stability we need to deliver on our key priorities for the residents of Oldham."

Mr Catherall's role at Oldham Council was the second post he had undertaken since he took early retirement at Blackburn with Darwen Council with a £130,000 pay off in April 2019.

He stood in as interim Chief Executive at St Helens Council in 2019/2020.

---

Do you have a story for us? Want to tell us about something going on in and around Oldham? Let us know by emailing news@oldham-chronicle.co.uk , calling our Oldham-based newsroom on 0161 633 2121 , tweeting us @oldhamchronicle or messaging us through our Facebook page. All contact will be treated in confidence.