IT'S all change within Bradford Council's senior management team.

Two new directors have been appointed to lead the authority's regeneration and sports departments, and the council is also making arrangements for the departure of chief executive Tony Reeves later this month.

Mr Reeves is leaving to become a partner in professional services network Deloitte's public sector advisory practice, after eight years at Bradford Council.

Although he was originally expected to leave Bradford at the end of the year, he has now negotiated an earlier start date at Deloitte and his last day at the council will be on October 22.

An appointments panel interviewed members of the council's senior management team to find someone to take over Mr Reeves' £178,000-a-year job temporarily, while a permanent replacement is sought.

Now the authority's City Solicitor, Suzan Hemingway, who has been working there for seven years, has been named as the interim chief executive.

But her appointment must first be approved at a meeting of the full council on Tuesday.

Mr Reeves said: "I will be working with Suzan over the next few weeks to have a smooth handover to ensure the confidence and credibility is maintained in the senior leadership of the council during a significant period of change and challenge."

Meanwhile, Mike Cowlam has been announced as the authority's new strategic director of regeneration and culture.

Mr Cowlam had taken on the role on an interim basis, after his predecessor, Barra Mac Ruairi, left the authority in February. Before that, he had been the council's assistant director of regeneration, economic development and property.

And Steve Hartley has been appointed as the new strategic director of environment and sport. Again, he has been in the role on an acting basis, since the retirement of Ian Bairstow in January.

Before that, Mr Harley was assistant director for neighbourhoods and customer services.

Both appointments were made through a competitive process, the authority said.

Mr Reeves said: "Steve and Mike will continue the excellent work they have been doing in their interim roles and they will now take full responsibility for leading their departments in providing key services for the citizens of Bradford."

Both Mr Cowlam and Mr Hartley take up their roles during times of huge change for the district.

For Mr Cowlam, regeneration priorities will include capitalising on the construction of the Westfield shopping centre, while for Mr Hartley, the planned construction of four new swimming pools will be a major sports project.