Who really runs Ealing Council? Senior officers – the people who manage the organisation every day

Most Ealing residents know the councillors. They know who the Leader is, who sits on the Cabinet, and who represents their ward. Far fewer people know who actually runs the organisation day to day – who is responsible for whether services work (or don’t), whether the budget is under control, and whether political decisions are turned into reality.

Those people are the senior officers – the top permanent officials of the Council. They are not politicians. They do not stand for election. They are professional managers employed to keep the whole organisation running.

How the leadership structure works
At the very top sits the Chief Executive – Tony Clements.

He is the most senior officer in Ealing Council. He is responsible for all staff, the organisational culture, and for making sure that decisions made by councillors are actually delivered. He is also the Head of Paid Service – the person legally responsible for the workforce.

Under him work several Strategic Directors, each responsible for a major area of the Council’s work:

Robert South – Strategic Director for Children
Everything related to children and young people: children’s social care, safeguarding, schools and early help for families. One of the most difficult and high-responsibility areas.

Nicky Fiedler – Strategic Director for Housing and Environment
Council housing, repairs, street cleaning, waste, roads, parking and green spaces. The services residents encounter most directly in everyday life.

Peter George – Strategic Director for Economy and Sustainability
Economic development, planning, major investment projects, climate and sustainability.

Emily Hill – Strategic Director for Resources
Finances. As the Section 151 Officer she has a legal duty to ensure the Council does not overspend and that the budget is properly managed.

Adults and Public Health – currently held on an acting basis by Adenike Tilleray
Adult social care, support for older and disabled people, and public health.

There are also other directors responsible for legal services, communications, service transformation, culture and leisure.

Politicians vs officers – an important distinction
Councillors (the politicians) decide what should be done and in which direction the borough should go.

Senior officers are responsible for how it is done – for the organisation, the money, the law and the quality of services.

When something does not work (delayed repairs, housing problems, poor communication), responsibility sits with both the political decisions and the officer structure that is supposed to deliver them. That is why it is useful for residents to know not only the names of councillors, but also the people who actually manage each major department.

The Council’s official Senior Management Structure Chart and Statement of Accounts set this structure out clearly. It helps residents understand better who to approach with questions and complaints.

Source: Ealing Council Senior Management Structure Chart (2026) and Statement of Accounts 2025/26.