In a bid to finally secure a permanent leader, the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) has signed off on a significant salary hike for its top role. The move comes after a prolonged search failed to find a suitable candidate for the chief executive position.
Salary Boost Approved to Compete for Talent
Members of the WMCA Board have given the green light to the authority's pay policy statement for 2026/27. Crucially, they approved an increase in the salary grade for the chief executive. The pay band has been raised from a range of £180,000 to £215,000 to a new, more competitive range of £197,825 to £250,000.
Authority bosses stated that the increase brings the region into line with other major combined authorities and reflects the substantial "level of responsibility" associated with the role. The decision was driven by a recognition that the previous salary was "too low to attract the calibre of candidates needed" to lead the ambitious organisation.
Prolonged Search for a Permanent Leader
The WMCA has been without a permanent chief executive since Laura Shoaf stepped down in June of last year. Deputy chief executive Ed Cox has been acting as interim leader. In October 2025, his temporary arrangement was extended for a further six months after the initial recruitment process did not yield a successful appointment.
Speaking at the board meeting, West Midlands Mayor Richard Parker emphasised the importance of the decision: "It is important for us to ensure we attract and recruit and retain the best people here and across the region."
Aligning with Other Major City Regions
The newly approved wage structure is designed to make the WMCA role competitive on a national scale. A spokesperson for the authority explained: "The new wage structure brings us into line with Greater Manchester, Liverpool and West Yorkshire combined authorities, and keeps us competitive for a role at the helm of an ambitious, trailblazing organisation."
The authority provided a breakdown of how the new salary compares:
- Greater Manchester Combined Authority offers its chief executive between £220,000 and £250,000.
- Liverpool City Region Combined Authority offers a salary from £205,304 to £229,209.
- West Yorkshire Combined Authority offers a flat rate of £197,825.
The spokesperson added context to the role's significance: "Due to the size and global status of the West Midlands, the role of chief executive is one of regional government's most senior jobs, and the salary reflects this level of responsibility. The WMCA is working to make the West Midlands the best place to live, work and visit, with a four year, multi-billion-pound budget to drive economic growth, new jobs, affordable housing and better public transport."
The authority will now renew its efforts to recruit a permanent chief executive, hoping the enhanced remuneration package will attract a field of high-calibre applicants to lead its major regional projects.
