Arun appoints new chief

Nigel Lynn, who is currently deputy chief executive of Spelthorne District Council in Surrey, has been confirmed as the new chief executive of Arun District Council.

He will officially take up the post on 3 October. There will be a ‘handover’ month between him starting at the authority and retiring chief executive Ian Sumnall leaving. Sumnall retires on November 3 after 26 years with Arun District Council, 20 of them as chief executive.

Nigel Lynn said: “I am proud to have been given this opportunity to serve the people of Arun and will ensure they get the best possible service from their council while driving forward the interests of the district.”

Before his appointment as deputy chief executive in 2007, he was strategic director for Spelthorne.

His career path in the public sector also includes working for Bridgend County Council, Maldon District Council, Lea Valley Regional Park Authority, the Inner London Education Authority, and the London Boroughs of Tower Hamlets Council and Barking and Dagenham.

He has also worked in the private sector. External roles have included being an advisor to the Local Government Association’s Culture and Sports Board, a peer assessor for the CPA and chair of the Chief Leisure and Culture Officers Association’s national executive.