THE managing director of Brentwood Council has stepped down after four years as part of the council’s restructuring process.

Alison Crowe moved aside on Sunday after the position was scrapped by the new accord running the council. A chief executive role is to be created in its place.

The council has appointed Jo-Anne Ireland, the council’s director of strategy and corporate services, to the position of head of paid service, pending the recruitment of a chief executive.

Mrs Crowe joined the council in November 2009 as the executive director for customer services before taking up the role of managing director in October 2010.

Ms Ireland said: “Alison has overseen a number of changes within the organisation and she has asked me to pass on her thanks and appreciation for all those who worked so hard to deliver the changes and continued to provide great services to Brentwood’s residents and businesses.

“I am sure you will join me in wishing her well and thanking her for the contribution she has made to the business over the past few years.”

Recently appointed council leader, Barry Aspinall, said a new appointment wouldn’t be of any further cost to the council.

He added: “This is an opportunity for a new administration to go forward. We believe Brentwood deserves a chief executive.

“We’d like to go into different areas and believe that a chief executive would be more beneficial than a managing director. There are certain expertise a chief executive will have that the managing director didn’t."