Swansea Council appoints new Director of Place

Swansea Council has appointed a new Director of Place. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Martin Nicholls, currently the council’s Chief Operating Officer, will take over the role from Phil Roberts, who will succeed Jack Straw as Chief Executive in May. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Place directorate covers areas including economic regeneration, planning, highways, environment, estates and corporate building and property services. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mr Nicholls, aged 49, will take on his new role from April 1 – exactly 25 years to the day since he first joined the council as a quantity surveyor. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Mr Roberts said: “Martin faced tough competition for the post of Director of Place. I am delighted with his appointment. He brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, commitment and enthusiasm and I look forward to working with him on the challenging agenda that faces us.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Father-of-four Mr Nicholls, an ex-Gowerton Comprehensive School pupil, was the council’s Head of Corporate Building and Property Services for 10 years before his appointment as Chief Operating Officer in 2013. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

He said: “I am delighted to become the council’s new Director of Place. These are extremely challenging times for the council, but I’m looking forward to working with the talented staff within the Place directorate to continue to provide the very best services for residents across the city.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​