Wrexham Council chief executive to step down after six years

THE chief executive of Wrexham Council has announced his intention to step down after six years at the helm.
Ian Bancroft will leave his position at some stage in 2025 after confirming his decision in a personal statement released this afternoon (Friday, October 4).
Mr Bancroft said while he remains committed to the area and its future, he has decided the time is right to move on and pursue new challenges.
He joined the local authority in August 2018 from neighbouring Flintshire Council, where he served as a chief officer responsible for strategic change.
In his statement, Mr Bancroft expressed pride in the progress Wrexham has made in the last few years after it was awarded city status in 2022.
It has also been placed under a global spotlight following Wrexham AFC’s takeover by Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney and the subsequent release of the Welcome to Wrexham documentary.
Mr Bancroft said: “ I have dedicated over six years of my life, endeavouring as part of the council and working with key partners, to make a significant difference to benefit the place and people of Wrexham, the place I call my home. I am proud of what I and we have achieved in that time.
“It was always my intention to review my future half way through this council term, the point we are now at.
“Performance of the authority is good and Wrexham as a place is experiencing positive growth.
“Despite the challenges we face in the current context, strong foundations are being laid to improve the culture of the council and ensure we have a sustainable budget.
“Having fulfilled the role of chief executive with a level of commitment that has been all consuming in my life, I have concluded that 2025 will be the right time for my departure.”
Mr Bancroft said he would work with the council to ensure his finish date meets both the council’s needs and his own.
He said the timing of his announcement would give the authority enough time to plan for the change and leave his successor in a “strong position”.
He said: “I intend to do something very different in the future and am looking forward to taking on new challenges.
“My intention after I finish work is to continue to support many initiatives, organisations and activities in Wrexham in a personal capacity such as the local cultural and sporting sector.
“I will remain personally fully committed to Wrexham as I have done for the last six years.
“I wish Wrexham and the council all the best for the future and am confident Wrexham’s star will continue to rise.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

By BBC LDRS ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​