ONE of the top jobs in Bury Council's newly restructured management team has been filled.

Eleni Ioannides will be the director of the newly formed social services, health and housing department.

Ms Ioannides is of Greek Cypriot origin, but was born and brought up in Manchester and has worked in local government for more than 20 years.

A Master of Business Administration, she has worked at Knowsley, Nottinghamshire, Lambeth and Manchester councils. She is currently head of children and family services with Swindon Borough Council, and will join Bury in late July.

She said: "I am looking forward to coming to Bury and hope that my experience will allow me to bring a wealth of understanding and different examples of best practice.

"I promise I will be working hard to ensure that services to vulnerable people will be second to none."

The council says that Ms Ioannides has an excellent track record when it comes to budget management.

Among other things, she sits on the children and families' committee of the Association of Directors of Social Services. She has represented the association on a number of Department of Health groups working, for example, on the National Care Standards Bill and Placement Choice.

Ms Ioannides was also part of a Department of Education and Employment group looking at the needs of emotionally and behaviourally disturbed young people, and on the NHS regional task force considering children's services.

Councillor John Byrne, council leader, said: "We look forward to Eleni's arrival in Bury and while she faces a busy time ahead, we hope it will be a fulfilling and enjoyable experience.

"We are right in the middle of change, which we believe will make a significant difference to people in our borough, and we are extremely happy to have been able to attract the expertise of someone like Eleni to get the job done."