Former Swansea Council Chief Executive Receives An OBE

Jack Straw, the former Chief Executive of Swansea Council, has received an OBE for services to local government. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mr Straw, who left the council in May 2016, said, “I am delighted to receive an OBE in the New Year Honours. When I started working in local government in the 1970s, I could never have imagined that I’d have such a satisfying career and that I’d receive this prestigious honour. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“However, this award would not have come about had it not been for the tremendous support that I have had from colleagues at Swansea Council over many years. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Their tireless work has seen services improve even during very challenging times and the honour I’ve received is a wonderful reflection of their dedication and determination to make things better for the people of Swansea.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mr Straw began his local government career in Nottingham, where he’s originally from, and later became Assistant City Treasurer for the former Swansea City Council in 1989. He has also held a number of senior posts in the NHS in Wales and was Chief Executive of the Swansea Local Health Board until 2005. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mr Straw then joined Swansea Council as Director of Social Services and Housing before being appointed Executive Director in 2009. He was appointed the Council’s Chief Executive in March 2011. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​