Senior officers

Key to diagram shows if roles are permanent, interim or vacant. Head of diagram: Jackie Yates (Chief Executive)(permanent), with 5 direct reports under her - Louise Duffield (Executive Director of Resources)(permanent), Emma Gee (Executive Director Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services)(permanent), Melissa Wise (Executive Director Communities and Adult Social Care)(permanent), Lara Patel (Executive Director Children's Services (DoCS))(permanent) and Louisa Dean (Head of Communications and Marketing)(permanent). Under Louise Duffield are her direct reports: Michael Graham (Monitoring Officer and AD for Legal and Democratic Services)(permanent), Darren Carter (Section 151 Officer and Director of Finance)(permanent), Ade Marques (Assistant Director Digital and Technology)(permanent), Kathryn Cook (Assistant Director HR and OD)(permanent), Gavin Handford (Assistant Director Policy, Change and Customer Services)(permanent). Under Emma Gee are her direct reports: Matt Golledge (Interim Assistant Director Planning, Transport and Regulatory Services)(interim), Donna Pentalow (Assistant Director Culture)(permanent), Charan Dhillon (Assistant Director Property and Asset Management)(permanent), Chris Wheeler (Assistant Director Environment and Commercial Services)(permanent), Sam Rackham (Interim Assistant Director Infrastructure, Economy and Capital Projects)(interim). Under Melissa Wise are her direct reports: Dr Matt Pearce (Director of Public Health)(permanent), Lara Fromings (Acting Assistant Director Commissioning and Transformation)(interim), Sunny Mehmi (Assistant Director ASC Operations)(permanent), Natalie Waters (Interim Assistant Director Housing Landlord Services)(interim), Bryony Hall (Interim Assistant Direct Strategic Housing, Housing Needs and Communities)(interim), Jo Purser (Deputy Director Safeguarding, Quality and Performance)(permanent). Under Lara Patel are her direct reports: Brian Grady (Director Education)(permanent), Kelly Hallett (Director Commissioning, Resource and Performance)(permanent), Lisa James (Director Transformation, Improvement and Quality Assurance)(permanent), Vacant (Director Family Help and Safeguarding)(vacant).

Head of Paid Service

Jackie Yates – Chief Executive

Overall management to staff and for advising councillors on how the authority should discharge the council’s functions and the number, organisation and grading of employees required to achieve this.

Grade: Chief Executive

Salary:  £188,228

Reporting to the Chief Executive

Emma Gee – Executive Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services (DEGNS)

Lead for all services within the directorate which include:

  • Culture
  • Planning, Transport and Public Protection
  • Infrastructure, Economy and Growth
  • Climate Strategy
  • Environmental and Commercial Services
  • Property and Assets

Grade: CDIR + MS

Salary:  £126,866 – £154,151

Melissa Wise – Executive Director Communities and Adult Social Care (DCASC)

Lead for all services within the directorate which include:

  • Adult Care Services
  • Safeguarding, Quality and Performance
  • Wellbeing and Public Health for Reading

Grade: CDIR + MS

Salary:  £126,866 – £154,151

Louise Duffield – Executive Director Resources (DoR)

Lead for all services within the directorate which include:

  • HR and OD
  • Finance
  • Legal and Democratic Services
  • Policy, Change and Customer Services
  • ICT and Digital

Grade: CDIR + MS

Salary:  £126,866 – £154,151

Louisa Dean – Head of Communications and Marketing

  • External and, internal communications
  • Digital design
  • Events and civic engagements
  • Berkshire Lieutenancy Office
  • Marketing

Grade: RSMB

Salary: £83,005 – £96,892

Reporting to Louise Duffield – Executive Director Resources

Kathryn Cook – Assistant Director of HR and Organisational Development

  • H&S for staff & public
  • Payroll & Pensions
  • Resourcing/ recruitment
  • HR advice & support
  • OD & Workforce Development
  • Staff Nursery
  • Emergency planning and risk management

Grade: RSMA

Salary: £93,804 – £109,223

Darren Carter – Section 151 Officer and Director of Finance

(Section 151 Officer)

  • Accountancy – Analysts
  • Accountancy – Systems
  • Accountancy – Technical Accounts Payable
  • Accounts Receivable
  • Business Partnering
  • Revenues and Benefits
  • Internal Audit
  • Fraud and investigation
  • Procurement and Contracts

Grade: RSMA + MS

Salary:  £117,804 – £133,223

Michael Graham – Monitoring Officer and Assistant Director of Legal and Democratic Services

(Monitoring Officer)

  • Legal Services
  • Joint Legal Team
  • Democratic Services
  • Electoral Services
  • Information Governance
  • Customer Relations

Grade: RSMA

Salary: £93,804 – £109,223

Gavin Handford – Assistant Director Policy, Change and Customer Service

  • Customer Fulfilment Centre
  • Change Delivery
  • Policy & Performance
  • Voluntary Sector
  • Registration & Bereavement

Grade: RSMA

Salary: £93,804 – £109,223

Ade Marques – Assistant Director of Digital and IT

  • ICT operations
  • Business partnerships and applications
  • ICT programme
  • Client management
  • Website
  • Digitalisation programme

Grade: RSMA

Salary: £93,804 – £109,223

Reporting to Emma Gee – Executive Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services

Chris Wheeler – Assistant Director of Environmental and Commercial Services

  • Street Care Services
  • Neighbourhood Services
  • Business Development
  • Refuse Collection
  • Parks and Open Spaces
  • Highways
  • RE3 Waste Services

Grade: RSMA

Salary: £93,804 – £109,223

Matt Golledge – Interim Assistant Director Planning, Transport and Regulatory Services

  • Planning
  • Regulatory Services
  • Transport

Grade: RSMA

Salary: £93,804 – £109,223

Charan Dhillon – Assistant Director of Property and Asset Management

  • Assets
  • Property Development
  • Sustainability
  • Corporate Property Services
  • Education Assets

Grade: RSMA

Salary: £93,804 – £109,223

Donna Pentelow – Assistant Director of Culture

  • Library Services
  • Cultural Services
  • Leisure and Recreation
  • New Directions

Grade: RSMA

Salary: £93,804 – £109,223

Reporting to Melissa Wise – Executive Director of Adult Care and Health Services

Sunny Mehmi – Assistant Director of Adult Social Care

Adult Social Care Operational Services

Grade: RSMA + MS

Salary: £102,412 – £117,831

Natalie Waters – Interim Assistant Director Housing Landlord Services Communities

  • Housing Operations
  • Community Safety and Enablement
  • Strategic Housing and Development
  • Homes for Reading
  • Housing Property Services

Grade: RSMA

Salary: £93,804 – £109,223

Bryony Hall – Interim Assistant Director Strategic Housing, Housing Needs and Communities

  • Community Partnerships
  • Property Development
  • Housing Needs
  • Strategic Housing

Grade: RSMA

Salary: £93,804 – £109,223

Lara Fromings – Acting Assistant Director of Transformation, Commissioning and Performance

  • BCF Project Manager (jointly with HoS)
  • ASC Transformation PMO
  • Matrix management oversight across the directorate

Grade: RSMA + MS

Salary: £102,412 – £117,831

Jo Purser – Deputy Director of Safeguarding, Quality and Practice

  • Strategic and operational Safeguarding
  • Data Performance
  • Quality
  • Approved Mental Health Practitioner’s (AMHP)
  • Forensic services
  • Deputies
  • Principal Social Worker

Grade: RSMA + MS

Salary: £106,804 – £122,223

Dr Matthew Pearce – Director for Public Health

(A joint appointment for Reading Borough Council and West Berkshire Council)

  • Public health lead for Reading and West Berkshire
  • Deliver improvements in the health and wellbeing of residents
  • Reduce inequalities in health outcomes
  • Protect local communities from threats to their health through infectious diseases, environmental and other public health hazards.

Grade: CDIR

Salary: £114,156 – £141,441

Contact details

Tel: Contact Centre 0118 937 3787

Address: Civic Offices, Bridge Street, Reading, RG1 2LU

Last updated on 06/10/2025