Friday 28 August 2020
Change of leadership at Cognus to start in September 2020
Joanna Cassey has been appointed as the new interim Managing Director of Cognus, Sutton Council’s education services provider. Fiona Phelps, who is the current acting Managing Director will be moving back into her full time post at Sutton Council as Assistant Director Education and SEND.
Under Fiona’s leadership as acting Managing Director Cognus has strengthened partnerships with local schools, settings and partners to provide continued improvements to services for children and young people, which has been recognised by Ofsted, the CCG and Vicky Ford MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Children and Families.
Joanna will be joining Cognus as interim Managing Director in September from Buckinghamshire County Council and will work closely with Fiona to ensure a smooth transition to build on progress and integration across the borough.
Councillor Marian James, Chair of the People Committee at Sutton Council, said:
“Huge thanks go to Fiona for her leadership of Cognus over the past 11 months. I welcome Joanna to Sutton and to her new role. I look forward to her carrying on and developing the improvements made by Fiona and partners. Despite the challenges presented by Covid-19 as we enter a new school year, we remain ambitious that Cognus and Sutton Council will continue to provide good services for our children and young people.”
Ian Comfort, Chair of Cognus said;
“We are extremely grateful to Fiona for her continued service and leadership of Cognus over the past year. Joanna’s appointment comes at the start of a new school year and we are excited about the potential for her to build on recent successes to strengthen the delivery of work in Sutton. On behalf of the board and all of the staff at Cognus we want to welcome Joanna.”