South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority has appointed senior civil servant Katharine Hammond as its £220,000-a-year chief executive.
Hammond previously worked at the Cabinet Office, where she was director of the Civil Contingencies Secretariat from 2016 to 2020. Prior to that, she was deputy secretary to the Iraq Inquiry. Earlier in her career, she worked at the Home Office and the Ministry of Justice. She has also worked at the Foreign Office. Details of Hammond’s current civil service role are not in the public domain.
She is due to start her new job in May, succeeding current SYMCA chief executive Martin Swales. Hammond’s former Cabinet Office colleague Kate Josephs, who is chief executive of Sheffield City Council, will serve as interim SYMCA head of paid service – a statutory role – for around three weeks between Swales’s departure and Hammond taking up post.
South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard said Hammond will be joining the combined authority at a time when it will be getting new powers and responsibilities under the English devolution bill. They include an integrated funding settlement that will give the mayor more autonomy to make spending decisions.
“Katharine brings a wealth of leadership experience at senior levels in the civil service, spanning strategy, policy, delivery and change,” he said.
“She has been director of the Civil Contingencies Secretariat in the Cabinet Office supporting COBR through numerous emergencies; has worked with the criminal justice system and with police forces; has held a senior role in national security and has been part of the drive to build the number of civil service roles in the north.”
He said the next few months will see the combined authority submitting its Spending Review bids and its industrial strategy, as well as developing plans for the integrated financial settlement granted under its devolution deal.
“We have a unique chance to grasp those opportunities and more, but to take advantage of this moment will require dynamic, effective and thoughtful leadership at the top of the MCA organisation,” Coppard said.
“Katharine ticks all those boxes and more, and I’m delighted South Yorkshire will be benefitting from her expertise and experience in the years ahead.”
Hammond said she was “excited” to be joining Coppard, the combined authority team, and leaders across Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield.
“I can’t wait to get stuck in and do the best possible job for the people of South Yorkshire,” she said.
“I want to raise South Yorkshire’s profile even more nationally and internationally and bring in new opportunities. I know I’ll only be able to do that by working in partnership with others across the region who share the same ambition. I believe we can achieve a huge amount together. I’m really looking forward to getting started.”
She is due to start in post on 19 May.