Sutton welcomes new Assistant Director of People and OD

Emily has held leadership positions in other London councils with a focus on people management, engagement and transformation. Prior to this appointment, Emily was the Head of Organisation Transformation at the London Borough of Southwark, responsible for organisational development, learning and development, business transformation and workplace design.

During her time at Southwark, Emily reshaped the Council’s people development approach, delivering service improvements, an award-winning apprentice programme and established a council-wide transformation approach. She delivered major projects that resulted in increased staff engagement levels; Investors in People re-accreditation at Gold level and new flexible workplace models.She also led programmes that streamlined management structures in Children’s Services and brought the Housing Repairs Service in-house.

Tricia Palmer has been holding the role of interim Assistant Director Human Resources and Organisational Development since 10 March 2020. Tricia will stay with the Council until July to ensure an effective handover to Emily.

Emily, on her appointment, said “I am delighted to be joining Sutton and am excited by the ambition of the Council and the commitment to apprenticeships and pathways into the Council. I’m looking forward to meeting the team (albeit remotely at first!), building on the partnership with Kingston, and continuing Sutton’s focus on developing and enabling our people to deliver the Council’s priorities.”

Richard Simpson, Strategic Director of Resources at Sutton Council, said: “I am delighted Emily is joining us. The Appointments Committee were really impressed with her experience and achievements in her previous roles. She is joining us in strange times but a time where our workforce is more important than ever to our success as an organisation.

“I would also like to thank Tricia Palmer for her contribution as Interim Assistant Director.”