A NEW management structure at Inverclyde Council has been confirmed which will see the loss of two posts.
Following a review, the local authority has removed the vacant roles of corporate director of education, communities and organisational development and director of environment and regeneration, as well as four heads of service positions.
Those six posts will be replaced by four new directors, who have been appointed following a recruitment process, and were already working in senior management with the council.
They are Tony McEwan, who will lead culture, communities, and educational resources, Neale McIlvanney overseeing regeneration, Eddie Montgomery with responsibility for environment, and Michael Roach, who will be in charge of education.
Stuart Jamieson, chief executive of Inverclyde Council, said: “Congratulations to Eddie, Michael, Neale and Tony on being appointed as directors.
“My thanks to everyone who has stepped up on an interim basis to provide continuity and stability while the corporate director and director roles were vacant, they have been a great support to me and the wider corporate management team.
“The new directors bring a varied wealth of experience combined with passion and enthusiasm to delivering success for all and getting it right for every child, citizen and community in line with the aims and objectives of the council plan. I wish them continued success in their new roles.”
The directors will formally begin their new roles on 1 December 2026.
Councillor Stephen McCabe, leader of Inverclyde Council, said: “Tony, Neale, Eddie and Michael all work incredibly hard and often go above and beyond the call of duty to support their teams and ultimately deliver for the council and the people of Inverclyde so their appointments are well-deserved.
“They know Inverclyde and the council inside out and provide continuity for staff but will also bring fresh ideas and energy to make Inverclyde an even better place to live, work, visit and do business and provide the best possible start in life for our young people.”
New culture, communities, and educational resources director, Tony, started his career at Inverclyde Council undertaking various roles in housing services and progressing to assistant service manager (quality and performance) within social work services.
He then moved to Renfrewshire Council and worked in planning and performance roles and was latterly strategic planning and policy development manager before leaving in 2019 to take up post as head of service for culture, communities and educational resources at Inverclyde Council.
Regeneration director, Neale, held roles as a planner in Dumfries and Galloway and South Ayrshire councils before becoming strategic planning manager at North Ayrshire Council where he undertook various roles and was latterly interim head of service (growth, investment and employability).
He started at Inverclyde Council in 2023 as head of service for regeneration, planning and public protection and was appointed as an interim director in May 2025.
Newly-appointed environment director, Eddie, began his career with Inverclyde Council in 1992 as a quantity surveying technician before progressing to senior quantity surveyor, assistant school estate manager and then service manager. He then became head of physical assets and was appointed as an interim director in May 2025.
Education director, Michael, started his career as a primary school teacher then progressed to depute head teacher and head teacher at East Renfrewshire Council. He also had roles in Lewisham Council, including executive head teacher and interim director of Lewisham Learning School Improvement Partnership, before being appointed as head of service for education at Inverclyde Council in 2019.
