Kingston appoints Sarah Ireland as new Chief Executive

Sarah’s appointment was confirmed at a meeting of the full council on 16 May, following a rigorous and competitive recruitment process.  

Sarah became Interim Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service at Kingston in February 2023, bringing a wealth of experience to the role following a collective five years as Kingston’s Director of Corporate and Commercial and subsequently Executive Director, Corporate and Communities. During this time, Sarah was also Chief Finance Officer, ensuring the robust administration of the council’s finances. 

Sarah has more than 30 years of experience in local government in a variety of roles in councils across London.

Leader of Kingston Council Andreas Kirsch welcomed Sarah’s appointment: 

“Sarah’s depth of experience, her commitment to Kingston and her dedication to delivering for our communities made her the standout candidate and I’m delighted she is our new Chief Executive. 

“Her strong track record since she joined Kingston five years ago speaks volumes. I look forward to continuing to work with her to tackle the challenging economic and environmental conditions we are working in, and delivering on our new council plan to make Kingston greener, fairer and safer for all our communities.”

Sarah said she is looking forward to continuing her work at Kingston: 

“Kingston is a wonderfully diverse, inclusive and vibrant borough and I am passionate about delivering for all our communities. I want to make sure the services we provide, often alongside partners in the community, make a positive difference to the lives of all Kingston’s residents. 

“I look forward to continuing our focus on striving to deliver consistently excellent customer care, supporting our residents and businesses through the cost of living crisis and taking action to address the impacts of climate change locally.”