Council chief exec to take 'early retirement' after criticism over housing safety failures

Andy Donald said it had been “an honour and a privilege to lead Haringey over the past five years”, reports Joe Ives, Local Democracy Reporter

Andy Donald (inset) is waving goodbye to Haringey Council

Haringey Council’s most senior officer has “brought forward his planned retirement” one week after the council declined to comment on his future.

In a brief statement released yesterday (Thursday 12th), the local authority announced that Andy Donald, its chief executive, would be stepping down from his role amid growing speculation over his future.

It comes a few days after the council said it was “inappropriate to comment” on Donald’s future – and a fortnight on from the furore sparked by a damning report, which led to claims that the council’s previous administration had “misled” the government’s housing regulator.

On Thursday, the council statement explained: “Haringey’s chief executive, Andy Donald, has brought forward his planned retirement and will now be stepping down as chief executive and head of paid service in the near future, once an interim replacement is appointed.”

The local authority added: “During his five years as chief executive, Andy has led the council during a time of unprecedented financial challenges.”

The council said that “despite this” there had been “many improvements”, including an ‘outstanding’ Ofsted judgement for its children’s services.

In its only reference to housing, the statement said: “Haringey has one of the largest council house-building programmes in the country, and has delivered thousands of new council homes over the last five years.”

Further information regarding the reasons for Donald’s early retirement were not disclosed. The council did, however, note that its Haringey Civic Centre refurbishment project is set to be “delivered on time and on budget” next year.

A council press release following Donald’s appointment in April 2022 described his hiring as a “major coup” and said he “is regarded as one of the best chief executives in the capital”.

In the 2025/26 financial year, Donald was being paid an annual salary of £235,584, an increase of over £7,300 on his pre-tax pay packet from the previous year, which made him the seventh-highest paid borough council CEO in London, out of 32.

Responding to the chief executive’s departure, Luke Cawley-Harrison, leader of the Liberal Democrat group who recently described the local authority as a “failing organisation”, said: “We thank Andy Donald for his role in stewarding Haringey Council over the past few years, and in particular for helping in the turnaround of Haringey’s infamous children’s services to ‘outstanding’. We wish him the best for his retirement.”

On a more serious note, Cllr Cawley-Harrison added: “The council’s current position on many fronts is, quite frankly, perilous, and the incoming CEO must quickly get a grip on the situation, not least the council’s finances, and Haringey’s housing service, whose failings were highlighted so starkly in the scathing Regulator of Social Housing adjudication.

“Their appointment will be absolutely crucial to the future of the borough and should be considered with great care to ensure they can drive the turnaround the council needs.”

Writing in the council’s statement on Thursday, Donald himself said: “It has been both an honour and a privilege to lead Haringey over the past five years, and I am extremely grateful to all of the amazing staff, partners and community organisations who work so hard to try and ensure that Haringey is a borough where everyone can belong and thrive.”

Mark Blake, who became council leader following a historic victory for Haringey Greens at the local election earlier this year, also shared some comments.

Cllr Blake said: “I’d like to thank Andy for his leadership over the last five years, and in particular for the support he has provided during the transition to a new Green administration.

“We will now turn our attention to recruiting a new chief executive who will oversee the next phase of Haringey’s journey.”

Local news needs your support

We are proud that we were at the forefront of reporting on the recent local elections. We can’t do this without the support of our readers.

Independent news outlets like ours – reporting for the community without rich backers – are under threat of closure, turning British towns into news deserts.

If our coverage has helped you understand our community a little bit better, please consider supporting us with a monthly, yearly or one-off donation.