After several successful years serving as the chief executive of Manchester City Council, Joanne Roney CBE is preparing to move to her home city of Birmingham.
Joanne Roney, who has been instrumental in the growth and development of Manchester, including making significant improvements to the property market, transport and community engagement, is due to take up a new role as the managing director of Birmingham City Council.
During her time as the CEO of Manchester City Council, Joanne led the city through some difficult periods, from the 2017 Manchester Arena terror attack – around the time she first took on the role – to the 2020 Covid pandemic. She has also been at the forefront of some of the city’s big successes, as it has expanded and thrived economically over the past decade.
Joanne was the first ever female leader of Manchester City Council, having taken over the role from Sir Howard Bernstein, who had held the position for almost 20 years from 1998 to 2017. He supported the creation of some of the city’s biggest venues and buildings, such as the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester Velodrome and Manchester Arena.
Honours and well-wishes
It was in 2009 that Joanne was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), before being made Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in 2024 for her services to local government, having been in office since 2008.
Those who have worked with her have praised her for the work she has carried out in promoting ambition, growth and opportunity during her time in Manchester, as well as her support for the North of England in general and tying local areas together.
Speaking on what she has brought to the property and urban development scene in the city, Barry Crichton, regional managing director for Manchester at Avison Young, said: “Her visionary leadership and dedication have driven significant improvements in housing, transportation, skills and community engagement, along with leading us through some challenging times, all of which will have a long-term positive impact on our city region.
He added: “I’m confident that her passion for urban development and her proven track record in Manchester will bring about remarkable progress for Birmingham as well, and we at Avison Young wish Joanne all the very best for the future.”
Caroline Baker, head of Cushman & Wakefield’s Manchester office, said: “She will leave the city in a great place with recognition of the need to continue to support our economic growth as well as those who are less able to benefit from the city’s success.
“She is an inspirational woman and I’m sure she will be as successful in shaping the future of Birmingham.”
From Manchester to Birmingham
Both cities often vie for the title of the UK’s “second city” after London, and both arguably have their merits in this position, as flourishing and thriving cities with huge levels of future development and investment on the cards.
The position Joanne will adopt in Birmingham is a newly created one of managing director, and she joins the council at a time when the outlook is somewhat uncertain, after it declared itself effectively bankrupt in 2023.
Joanne is going back to her roots, as she was born and grew up in the city, and she effectively started her career with Birmingham City Council, having been an apprentice there at the age of 16 within the housing department.
Joanne said: “I’ve loved my time in Manchester. It’s a wonderful city and I’m proud of what – together with colleagues, partners and the city’s political leadership – we’ve been able to achieve here. Whoever follows me as chief executive is inheriting an incredible role alongside a talented and dedicated leadership team.
“I might be an adopted Mancunian, and proud of it, but I’m a native Brummie and this was the only role which could have tempted me away. I began my career as an apprentice at Birmingham City Council at the age of 16 so the prospect of concluding it there as managing director, and helping the place where I grew up and my family still live rise to its current challenges, was a compelling one.”
