The Scottish Police Authority has today, Thursday 4 March 2021, announced the appointment of Lynn Brown as the Authority’s permanent Chief Executive. Ms Brown has been the Authority’s Interim Chief Executive since October 2019.
The permanent appointment follows a robust and open recruitment and selection process launched in December 2020. The appointment was approved by the Authority on 2 March 2021.
The Chief Executive acts as the principal advisor to the Board of the Scottish Police Authority and Accountable Officer for a policing budget of over £1.3 billion.
Announcing the appointment, Martyn Evans, Chair of the Scottish Police Authority said:
“I am delighted to announce the appointment of Lynn Brown as the Authority’s permanent Chief Executive. Lynn’s appointment follows a robust recruitment and selection process from a strong pool of candidates. Lynn demonstrated extensive experience and a strong track record in senior leadership roles. She has also played a leading role strengthening the Authority’s contribution to policing over these last 16-months.”
Lynn Brown added:
"I am delighted to have been appointed and I look forward to continuing to work with SPA Members and its dedicated staff team as we continue to build a strong public body that acts in the public interest and supports the role of policing in Scotland.”
Article initially published 4 March 2021
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Lynn Brown - Biography
Lynn Brown has been Interim Chief Executive and Accountable Officer at the Scottish Police Authority since October 2019. She was formally Executive Director of Financial Services at Glasgow City Council between 2003-2016 where she was responsible for an annual budget of £2.4 billion, a capital programme of £1 billion and a pension fund valued at £18 billion. She was also responsible for a significant programme of reform and transformation during her tenure which involved widespread stakeholder engagement including elected members, the Scottish Government, staff, the public, third sector and partner organisations.
A highly experienced public finance accountant, she holds a MA Honours degree in History from the University of Edinburgh and is a Member of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) and a former Chair of CIPFA in Scotland.
About the Scottish Police Authority
The Scottish Police Authority was established in 2013 as the national organisation to support, oversee and hold to account Scotland’s single police service.
With a workforce of more than 22,000 police officers and staff and an annual budget of £1.3 billion, Police Scotland is the second largest police service in the UK and serves a population of over five million people, in cities and towns and across rural and island communities.
The main functions of the Authority are to maintain, keep under review and hold to account Police Scotland, and to promote the primary purpose of policing in Scotland which is to improve the safety and wellbeing of people places and communities. The Authority has additional responsibilities, including as the employer of all police staff and in relation to police officers, including the recruitment of senior police officers. It currently has around 40 staff, and is now undertaking a major programme of organisational improvement and restructuring to increase its capacity and capability to carry out its core responsibilities.
In addition, the Authority is responsible for Forensic Services and Independent Custody Visiting.
Ms Brown will be paid within the appropriate salary band which is currently £115,000-£120,000.
The selection panel who recommended the appointment comprised:
- Martyn Evans, Chair of the Scottish Police Authority
- Mary Pitcaithly, Member of Scottish Police Authority
- Caroline Gardner, Independent Panel member & former Auditor General
- Clare Hicks, Deputy Director, Police Division