MAX WIDE FRSA
Interim Chief Executive
My Story
Max was appointed Interim Chief Executive of the Leadership Centre in March 2026. He led the work of Solace Enterprises in leadership and cultural change, before joining the private sector, working with BT Global Services, then with ImPower, and EY, before rejoining the public sector. Max has been a strategic director leading transformation in Barnet, Suffolk and Bristol City Councils as well as helping to merge the Future Cities and Transport Catapults to form the Connected Places Catapult.
Max is now a transformation advisor working alongside chief executives and their leadership teams to help them design and drive the delivery of transformation programmes, local government reorganisation and public service reform. He specialises in applied programmes that work with leaders in real time to help them fundamentally redesign services, driven by modular learning inputs that focus on organisational and individual development.
As well as being Interim Chief Executive, Max leads on all of our work with strategic authorities. He is also working directly with the South Yorkshire and East Midlands Combined Authorities.
Last, but by no means least, Max is a passionate advocate and practitioner of hyper local approaches, working on the devolution of powers, assets and responsibilities to town and parish councils in Frome in Somerset.
max.wide@leadershipcentre.org.uk