Leadership roles to be considered by Council next week

06 August 2026

West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) will meet next week to consider the appointment of its new Chief Executive and Chief Finance Officer.

Councillors will gather for the extraordinary Council meeting in Northampton’s Guildhall next Thursday (13 August) at 5pm. Martin Henry has been selected for the permanent position of Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service, subject to formal approval by councillors at next week’s meeting.

Martin, who is WNC’s Resources Executive Director and Chief Finance Officer and an integral part of the Leadership team since the unitary’s creation six years ago, has been acting as interim chief executive since November last year.

At next week’s meeting councillors are also recommended to approve James Smith as WNC’s new Chief Finance Officer (also known as Section 151 Officer), following a selection process. James, a chartered accountant with over 25 years’ public sector experience, is Corporate Director for Finance and Procurement and has served as Deputy Chief Finance Officer since the Council’s creation, playing a key role in the unitary transition.

The meeting will be streamed live on the Council’s Youtube channel from 5pm – view the agenda and reports here.