Barnet's Boland switches to GLA

He will fill the post vacated by the resignation of Anthony Mayer, announced less than two weeks after Boris Johnson was elected mayor of London in May.

Jeff Jacobs will continue serving as interim chief executive of the authority until the New Year, when Mr Boland takes over his new post.

Mr Boland’s appointment appears to fit with a higher profile given to the capital’s suburbs under the new mayor’s stewardship.

Mayor Mr Johnson said 56-year-old Mr Boland’s reputation for “running a tight ship” at Barnet would be welcome skills for the Greater London Assembly (GLA).

"His skills and approach are exactly what we need at City Hall to ensure that the GLA delivers value for money for all Londoners in the coming years,” he said.

“I’d also like to thank Jeff for leading the transition since my election, completing the successful reorganisation of my office and generally holding the fort during a challenging summer.

“I am therefore very pleased he will continue to lead the GLA until Leo joins us and I have asked him to stay on after that to play a key role in carrying forward my priorities.”

During almost nine years at the helm of Barnet, Mr Boland has overseen the borough's development as a “city suburb” and its behaviour change programme.

Prior to becoming chief executive of Barnet, Mr Boland was assistant chief executive at Newham LBC.

Earlier in his career he worked at Islington LBC’s housing department.

In 2004 Mr Boland became involved in a public row with then London Mayor Ken Livingstone over the size of Barnet’s share of a£5bn funding package for transport in the capital.

LGC understands that several London chief executives approached to throw their hats into the ring for the GLA job declined.

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