The current president of the council personnel officers society has been hired to head up the new LGA employers' organisation. ~Jan Parkinson~ human resources chief at Gateshead MBC and president of the Society of Personnel Officers (SOCPO), has been headhunted to be managing director of ~Local Government Employers~ which replaces the Employers' Organisation.

Ms Parkinson will be responsible for the pay, conditions, pensions and negotiations in the new role, and will oversee 50 staff based at the LGA's headquarters in central London. She will report to LGA deputy chief executive, ~John Ransford~ who told The MJ: ‘We are delighted she is joining us as she has substantial credibility and has worked for a highly successful metropolitan authority.' Ms Parkinson has spent 10 years at Gateshead and previously worked for the NHS after studying linguistics.