2 July 2024
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Michael King as our new Head of Policy and External Communications following a competitive selection process.
The position attracted significant interest and a very high calibre short-list of candidates. Michael stood out for his unique combination of skills and experience, including his tenure as a town clerk, extensive background in local government policy development, and service on the SLCC Board of Directors.
Michael’s career spans over thirty-five years across public and private sectors, showcasing expertise in local government, public policy, and strategic management.
After graduating from Newcastle University with a BSc in Science of Engineering Materials, Michael began his career with the Ministry of Defence. He then transitioned into local government, holding senior policy roles at district and unitary councils. Michael’s experience extends to the NHS, where he was Director of Planning & Corporate Affairs at the Prescription Pricing Authority. He later moved into consultancy, focusing on public sector transformation and improvement.
Since 2012, Michael has made significant contributions to local councils, as the clerk for towns in Durham and North Yorkshire. He has been an SLCC Director since 2017 and Chair for two years. Michael has now stood down from the SLCC Board to take this role, but will continue to represent SLCC on the Board of Smaller Authorities Audit Appointments Ltd (SAAA).
With an MBA from Teesside University and as a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute, Michael brings a wealth of knowledge in public policy, corporate governance, and strategic development from his previous roles.
Michael will assume his new role on 23 August and is looking forward to continuing to promote the sector across England and Wales, to advocate for changes that will develop innovation in local councils and to champion the role of clerks with our partner organisations and with central government.
