Newham Council has put forward Juliane Weseman for the position of Director of Strategy, Policy and Communications, following interviews conducted by the Chief Officer Appointments Sub-Committee on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.
Weseman, currently the Deputy Director of Local Government at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, was recommended after the sub-committee's interviews and a subsequent closed session. This recommendation is provisional and will be confirmed unless any objections are raised during a two-working-day consultation period with all Cabinet members.
The recruitment process for this significant role commenced on January 22, 2026, attracting a substantial sixty-seven applications. Seven candidates were longlisted and progressed through a rigorous selection process, which included assessments, interviews with senior officers, and participation in a selection assessment centre. Further details on the recruitment process can be found in the Ch Officer appointment sub cttee - D of Strat Policy Comms report.
Mayor Rokhsana Fiaz OBE, who chaired the meeting, declared a non-pecuniary interest, stating as she had worked previously with one of the candidates.
The meeting minutes do not explicitly detail how this interest was managed during the decision-making process beyond the declaration itself. Guidance on declarations of interest is available here.
Councillors Rita Chadha and John Gray were absent from the meeting, with Councillor Amar Virdee attending as a substitute. The full Public reports pack and Printed minutes for the Chief Officer Appointments Sub-Committee meeting are also available.
