Two new appointments on Redbridge Council’s management team have been announced as the restructure continues at a fast pace.

Simon Parker, director of the New Local Government Network (NLGN), a leading think tank, will begin as corporate director of strategy in October.

Caroline Bruce, most recently interim strategic director at Rotherham Council, will take the new post of corporate director of place from September.

Mr Parker, who has written a book entitled Taking Power Back: Putting People in Charge of Politics, will be in charge of the local authority’s strategy, performance, commercial interests and communications.

He said: “Redbridge is a great borough with the potential to be even better.

“I am excited about working with the council and its partners in the community to help put this special part of London on the map.

“These are challenging times for local government, and it has never been more vital that we find innovative ways to serve residents better.”

Ms Bruce will oversee housing, regeneration, property and civic pride.

She said:“Redbridge is a great place to live, with great schools and well developed health and social care integration, but there are opportunities to do even more, particularly in the new place directorate.”

Ms Bruce said she would be focussing on alleviating housing pressures.

She added: “The regeneration opportunities which Redbridge is harnessing will transform the borough’s landscape and infrastructure and one of my priorities will be to ensure residents really see and feel the benefits of this transformation.”

Council chief executive Andy Donald said he was “delighted” to welcome the pair to Redbridge.

He added: “I am very pleased to have been able to attract candidates of this calibre.”

The changes come as part of a wide ranging restructure of the council’s senior leadership team, which leaves Mr Donald as the most experienced member despite only starting in January.

Further appointments will announced in the coming weeks.