Tower Hamlets Extends Interim Director Roles Amid Recruitment Challenges

Tower Hamlets Council is facing ongoing challenges in filling senior positions, leading to extensions of interim director roles. The issue was discussed at the Human Resources Committee meeting on 22 December 2025, where members approved extensions for several interim directors to ensure continuity and provide sufficient handover periods.

Mark Norman will continue as Interim Director of Governance until 31 March 2026. Similarly, Dal Babu's engagement as interim Director of Community Safety has been extended to the same date to facilitate a smooth transition and provide a detailed handover to the incoming permanent Director of Public Protection and Integrated Enforcement, Kiran Vagarwal, who is scheduled to start in January 2026. Abdulrazak Kassim will also remain as Acting Corporate Director of Resources until 31 March 2026.

The committee received an Update on Senior Recruitment outlining the status of various senior roles. While some permanent appointments have been made recently, including Ellen Clark as Resources Director of HR & OD commencing 15 December 2025, several key positions remain in the recruitment process.

Vacant posts currently being recruited for include Director of Young Tower Hamlets, Director of Adult Social Care, Director of Commissioning, Corporate Director of Resources, Director of IT, and Director of Customer Services. The council has faced challenges in these recruitments, with interviews for Corporate Director of Resources and Director of IT having taken place without a successful appointment. According to the Senior Recruitment Update, recruitment processes for these roles are expected to recommence in 2026.

The Senior Recruitment Update also states that the Human Resources Committee is responsible for the appointment of Chief and Deputy Chief Officer posts, establishing Appointment Sub-Committees to manage the recruitment process and receiving regular progress reports. The council's Officer Employment Procedure Rules stipulate that the engagement of Chief Officers to permanent positions or interim positions of over six months must be overseen by the Human Resources Committee.