Sefton Council appoints chief executive

Philip Porter will join the local authority this summer, taking over the post from Dwayne Johnson, who will retire after more than 40 years in local government.

Following Leader Cllr Ian Maher’s recommendation, Sefton councillors selected Porter as Johnson’s replacement as chief executive yesterday.

Johnson said: “…[Porter] joins at an exciting time, given the scale of the regeneration programmes starting shortly, and I’m sure he will build on the progress we have been making over the last few years.”

Porter will join Sefton Council from his current role as corporate director of adult social care and health at Brent Council, bringing 23 years of experience in local government to his new role as chief executive.

Porter has worked at Brent Council for 12 years, leading a range of services in that time including housing and public health, leisure, and culture.

Previous roles in local government also include corporate policy manager and managing director of projects, communication, and governance at Kent Council, where he worked for nine years.

Porter also worked as a consultant across England and Scotland for two years.

Maher, said: “Philip impressed the panel with his many and varied skills, and I look forward to working with him once he has taken up his new post.”

Porter added: “I have been really impressed by the council’s commitment to improve core services now, particularly children’s services, as well as its ambition for the future, from Bootle to Southport.