Following a competitive internal recruitment process, Melissa Caslake, has been appointed to the role as Tom Stannard’s successor.
Melissa Caslake, who is currently Executive Director of Children’s Services at Salford City Council and has been in post for two years, will take up the position from 3 February 2025. She joined the organisation in December 2022, initially as interim Executive Director, before taking up the position permanently in 2023.
Prior to her arrival in Salford, she held roles as a Director for Children’s Services for a number of local authorities including Devon and the bi-borough arrangements between Kensington and Chelsea and the City of Westminster.
During her time at Salford as Executive Director of Children’s Services, Melissa Caslake has overseen a range of initiatives, all aimed at creating a fairer, greener, healthier and more inclusive city for all.
Under her management, Salford Children’s Services achieved a successful OFSTED inspection which resulted in the service being rated as ‘good’ with ‘outstanding’ leadership and care leaver support.
She has guided teams to improve the quality of children’s homes provision, launched the city’s attendance strategy, and secured partnerships with the National Literacy Trust and the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. Melissa has also been responsible for successfully leading both a key strand of the council’s internal transformation programme and the drive for Salford to become a recognised Child Friendly City.
Tom Stannard leaves Salford following almost four years of dedication and delivering outstanding contributions. Under his leadership, the city has seen huge growth and the council has achieved significant success and made remarkable progress in various initiatives.
He is credited with leading the council to recent accolades, being crowned the ‘Best Place to Work’ by the Local Government Chronicle and recognised as ‘City of the Year’ by Estates Gazette. Under his stewardship, the council launched its Skills and Work strategy, whilst cementing and creating new partnerships across the private sector.
He has been responsible for driving forward the development of Salford’s first Youth Zone and brought the Culture, Place Partnership into life as well as delivering the city’s We Invented the Weekend Festival.
He has overseen numerous regeneration projects, including the work on Salford Rise, preliminary work on the redevelopment of Eccles and Swinton town centres, the opening of 100 Embankment and the acquisition of the Salford Community Stadium.
As Chief Executive, he has also championed the city on a global platform, launched the council’s new Corporate Plan and been responsible for the council’s successful post-COVID recovery.
Paul Dennett, Salford City Mayor, said: “Whilst I wish to express my heartfelt gratitude to Tom Stannard, for his outstanding leadership, I am now pleased to announce the appointment of Melissa Caslake as the new Interim Chief Executive of Salford City Council.
She brings a wealth of experience and a strong commitment to our community, having served as Executive Director of Children’s Services over the past two years.
Melissa’s expertise and dedication will be invaluable in driving forward our initiatives and ensuring that Salford remains a vibrant and thriving city. We are confident that she will continue Tom’s legacy of excellence and ensure that the good work is carried on throughout her time as interim.”
Melissa Caslake added “‘I am delighted to be taking up the role of Interim Chief Executive, and working together with elected members and officers to take forward our priorities for Salford residents.”
