Mansfield District Council has appointed James Biddlestone as its permanent Chief Executive Officer, following approval from the Mayor and Full Council on Tuesday 25 November.
James has served as Interim CEO since February 2025 and has played a key role in leading the organisation through a period of significant change. His permanent appointment follows a series of formal reviews with the Mayor, the Personnel Committee, and Full Council over recent weeks.
He first joined Mansfield District Council in October 2019 and has held several senior positions, including Head of People and Transformation and, most recently, Strategic Director of Operations and Strategy. He also brings experience from a range of local government roles, including Head of Highways at Derbyshire County Council.
James said: “It is a privilege to now be appointed as the permanent Chief Executive of Mansfield District Council. This confirmation provides stability for the organisation at an important time for local government, and my focus now is on our residents, tenants and businesses.
“Listening to our communities — understanding not only the support they need from us right now, but what upcoming Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) means for them — will be at the heart of how we move forward. I want people to feel informed, involved and confident about the changes ahead.
“As we prepare for LGR, I will be making sure we continue to deliver our critical services without disruption. Our residents rely on us every day, and maintaining strong, consistent services remains my top priority.
“We will also continue working closely with our partners, voluntary groups, local businesses and regional stakeholders to ensure Mansfield’s voice is heard and that the needs of our communities shape the decisions that affect them. I look forward to strengthening these relationships and working collaboratively to secure the best possible future for the district.”
Executive Mayor Andy Abrahams said: “I am thrilled that we now have James as our permanent CEO at Mansfield District Council. Since the start of the year, James has been working tirelessly with integrity and authenticity to provide stability and leadership to our organisation, achieving effective outcomes, and I’m very pleased to see this continue.
“This is a critical time for local government, but with James’s experience, I’m very confident we can navigate any challenges that come our way.”