Rumbelow to leave Rochdale next year

Steve Rumbelow will stand down as the council’s chief executive after 10 years in the job to “seek new projects”.

Rochdale Council has confirmed Rumbelow’s decision to step down and said the recruitment process for his successor will begin later this month.

No firm date has been set for Rumbelow’s last day. He is expected to depart in the first half of 2025.

Rumbelow, who is 63, joined Rochdale Council in 2014 from Burnley Council, where he was also chief executive.

During his career, he has also spent time at Manchester City Council, Leeds City Council, Ashfield Council, and Rotherham Council.

During his time at Rochdale, he has overseen several large-scale projects. These include Rochdale Riverside, which has delivered a retail park, apartments, and a hotel in the town centre across two phases.

In recent years, he has also been instrumental in drawing up proposals for Atom Valley, the 17m sq ft employment zone that spans Rochdale, Bury, and Oldham and is billed as Greater Manchester’s largest growth opportunity.

Away from development, Rumbelow led Rochdale Council’s response to the pandemic.

“I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together but now feels like the right time to pass the torch and seek new projects,” Rumbelow said.

“I’ve had a wonderful experience in Rochdale, and I’m grateful for the support from our councillors, staff, and all the teams who work tirelessly to drive our borough forward. I will do my utmost to ensure my successor has a solid foundation to continue our progress.”

Cllr Neil Emmott, Leader of the council, said: “I want to thank Steve for his unwavering service to our borough. His calmness under pressure, energy, and profound understanding of local government have been invaluable assets for us all.

“I am very sad to be losing his expertise and insight.”