Elaine Jackson has been appointed as the Interim Chief Executive of Croydon Council, effective from 10 December 2025, for a 12-month period. The interim appointment enables the Council to implement its essential transformation programme up to the elections in May 2026, with the necessary leadership oversight and maintenance of essential cover until a permanent appointment is secured post-election, according to the Appointment of the Interim Chief Executive Report.
The decision was made during a Croydon Council meeting on Wednesday, where councillors voted to approve the appointment. The move aims to provide leadership continuity and stability during a period of significant transformation for the council.
According to the Appointment of the Interim Chief Executive Report, Ms. Jackson has a wealth of experience in senior management, including being a Chief Executive of another local authority, an NHS Trust, and in the private sector. She has also been the lead officer for the Council's transformation to date.
Mayor Jason Perry thanked Ms. Jackson for her leadership, saying, At a crucial time of transformation for this council, Elaine has offered clear and determined leadership.
Ms. Jackson's performance will be monitored through regular performance review meetings, annual appraisal, and the regular Mayor's KPI performance reports. The Executive Mayor will set objectives and key results for Ms. Jackson to be delivered over the 12-month interim period, as outlined in the Appointment of the Interim Chief Executive Report.
The decision to appoint Ms. Jackson comes after the resignation of the previous Chief Executive, Katherine Kerswell, on 16 October 2025. The meeting information states that Katherine Kerswell resigned as Chief Executive on 16th October 2025, but does not provide any specific reasons for her resignation. Since then, Ms. Jackson has been covering the role on a temporary basis.
The acting up allowance for Elaine Jackson is £52,826 for twelve months. The spot salary for the permanent Chief Executive role is £210,724 per year, inclusive of the 3.2% increase recently agreed by the Joint National Council (JNC) for Chief Executives for 2025/6, as detailed in the Appointment of the Interim Chief Executive Report.
The permanent Chief Executive role will be recruited through a fair and open process designed to encourage a diverse field of applicants, according to the Appointment of the Interim Chief Executive Report.
Further details on the appointment can be found in the Appointment of the Interim Chief Executive Report from the meeting.
