Head of Paid Service (Newham Council)
Newham Council is finalising the appointment of its new Head of Paid Service, with a target start date of October 2026.
Newham Council is currently finalising the appointment of its new Head of Paid Service, also known as the Chief Executive, with a target start date of October 2026. The Chief Officer Appointment Committee discussed the recruitment process in October 2025, following the departure of Abi Gbago in July 2025 and the appointment of Paul Martin as Interim Chief Executive.
The Head of Paid Service is a statutory role responsible for the overall management of the council's staff, including numbers, grades, and appointments. Newham Council has a statutory obligation under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989 to appoint a Head of Paid Service.
Key facts
- The target start date for Newham Council's new Chief Executive is October 2026. Source
- The Chief Officer Appointment Committee discussed the recruitment process in October 2025. Source
- Paul Martin was appointed Interim Chief Executive in July 2025. Source
- Abi Gbago departed as Chief Executive in July 2025. Source
- Newham Council has a statutory obligation to appoint a Head of Paid Service. Source
About this summary
This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 30 September 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.