Andy Keeling is the Chief Executive and Chief Operating Officer of Leicester City Council. Andy’s first degree was in Housing and Development, which was the field he spent the first 10 years of his career. After completing his MBA IN 2000 Andy diversified into the Neighbourhood Renewal and Regeneration fields. He was appointed Corporate Director for Regeneration and Culture in January 2007 and then Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chief Executive in October 2008.
Andy has two children, Jess and Dan both at university and is a fan of Leicester City FC – champions of England!
1) What is your current position?
I am the Chief Operating Officer and Head of Paid Service for Leicester City Council. This means I am the Council’s most senior officer, with shared responsibility along with the City Mayor for all the activities, services and projects of the Council, we have an annual turnover of £1 billion. I have a very capable team of Directors along with 6500 staff and I don’t want to give the impression that this is anything other than a big team effort.
2) What are your proudest achievements?
I was born at the back of Saffron Lane in 1968 (in Leicester), so to do this job in my home town is an immense privilege and a constant source of pride. I wouldn’t want to take credit for any of the Council’s achievements as so many different people – staff, politicians, partners, citizens of Leicester are involved in all our projects and services.
3) What inspires you?
The resilience and tolerance of Leicester people. The City has seen many changes over the last 40 years and we are emerging from some very difficult economic times with a sense of community and self-confidence.
4) What has been the biggest obstacle in your career?
My own irreverence and inability to appropriately filter what I’m thinking before I open my mouth. A boss once described my brutal honesty and I don’t think she was paying me a compliment.
5) Who has been the biggest influence on your career to date?
Two different bosses, one at the beginning of my career, Pat Hobbs, who was a great mentor and guiding hand. The other, Julia, my ex-wife who supported every promotion, studying for my MBA and every evening or weekend worked.
6) What is the best aspect about your current role?
I get to be involved in lots of really interesting stuff making no two days the same.
7) And the worst?
The ridiculous grant cuts by central government – decisions made in Westminster completely devoid of the reality of the situation in towns and cities like Leicester.
8) What are your long term goals?
Balance the Council’s budget to 2020, continue the excellent economic and physical regeneration of the City and for me personally buy a house, hopefully with a special someone as I’m currently renting.
9) If you were Prime Minister, what one aspect would you change?
National economic policy, austerity hasn’t worked and only stubborn foolhardiness is keeping it going and within that proper fiscal devolution for local government.
10) If you were marooned on a desert island, which historical figure would you like to spend your time with and why?
One is difficult so any of the following: Albert Einstein, Charles Darwin, Che Guevara, or Rosa Luxemburg – I have a notoriously short attention span, if someone doesn’t get to the point in a few minutes my mind moves on but all of these will keep my attention for days and days being interesting, engaging and inspiring.
