News / Politics
Anna Klonowski becomes council chief exec
She now earns more than the prime minister and becomes the most powerful unelected official at Bristol City Council.
The council’s new chief executive Anna Klonowski has been at City Hall since the start of 2016 working on devolution and finance before becoming the interim strategic director of resources in July 2016.
As council chief exec, her salary is £160,000 per year compared to mayor Marvin Rees’ salary of £65,738, the same salary as an MP.
is needed now More than ever
Klonowski, 51, was born in north London and now lives in Wiltshire. Describing herself as “Anglo Polish working class”, she has worked in local government, health, with the Metropolitan Police and in consultancy roles.
“I’m really pleased to be welcoming Anna in to the top job,” said Rees.
“She shares much of my vision for the council and the city. I’ve no doubt that she will help us make real progress, especially around strengthening our financial function and improving the culture of the council.”
Klonowski’s appointment was questioned, however, by some councillors.
Green councillor Carla Denyer drew attention to the council’s commitment of a 10:1 pay ratio at Tuesday’s meeting of the full council. This is the recommendation that, within any business, the highest paid employee earns no more than ten times more than the lowest.
The city council is one of the Bristol employers that maintains this ratio and had it written into their pay policy this year, as well as supporting the Living Wage Foundation campaign.
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