Mark Fowler has been formally appointed to the permanent role of Luton Council’s Chief Executive, with a ringing endorsement from the leader who said he’s “genuinely passionate about improving the lives of our residents”.
The decision at last night’s Full Council meeting follows an extensive recruitment process and recommendation by a cross-party panel of councillors after his appointment in an interim role after predecessor Robin Porter stepped down from the role in April, for family reasons, after six years at the helm.
The new CEO joined Luton Council in February 2022 as Corporate Director for Population Wellbeing and has been Deputy Chief Executive since April 2023.
Prior to this, he had considerable senior leadership experience working at the London boroughs of Croydon and Barking & Dagenham for over 10 years. He has led on work across, housing, social care, human resources, resident experience and communities. Delivering system wide changes and improvements for residents, whilst achieving considerable savings.
While at Luton, Mr Fowler has been the corporate lead for redressing health inequalities, which includes work on housing, social care and place-based provision. He also held responsibility for the council’s five-year transformation program.
Councillor Hazel Simmons MBE, Leader of Luton Council, said: “We are delighted to have appointed Mark as our new Chief Executive. He brings a wealth of experience from across the public sector, with a strong track record of leading transformation and delivering meaningful change.
“Mark’s enthusiasm for Luton is clear, and he is genuinely passionate about improving the lives of our residents. He has a collaborative leadership style and, during his time as Interim Chief Executive, has already shown real commitment to making a difference. I look forward to continuing to work with Mark, and I am confident that his leadership will help drive positive change for our town.”
Mark Fowler added: “It’s a genuine privilege to be appointed to this role, and I’m excited to build on the strong foundations already in place to help bring about positive change for Luton. My focus will remain firmly on supporting our residents – ensuring they feel safe, have access to secure housing and employment opportunities, and can thrive in a town with so much potential.
“While we face real challenges around funding and growing demand, I have every confidence in our dedicated members, partners, and officers. I’m proud to be part of such a committed team, and I look forward to working together to deliver the progress and change Luton deserves.”
