Office Holders
ACCE leadership comprises the chair, senior vice-chair, junior vice-chair, secretary and treasurer. ACCE chairs are in place for one years, after which the vice-chair assumes the role unless the role is challenged by another member.
The secretary is responsible for member communications, and the treasurer for the ongoing financial guardianship of the network. Both positions are not time-bound and positions are filled as and when the current post-holder steps down from their duties.
Dr Stephen Moir, Cambridgeshire County Council – Chair
As the Chief Executive of Cambridgeshire County Council since 2022, Stephen is involved in leading one of the fastest growing places in the country, working with a range of system partners and elected members to deliver the Council’s vision of creating a greener, fairer, more caring Cambridgeshire.
Stephen previously worked for the Council between 2005-2011, as a corporate director. Immediately prior to re-joining Cambridgeshire, Stephen was the Executive Director of Corporate Services for the City of Edinburgh Council. A proud and committed public servant, Stephen has undertaken a range of leadership roles in Local Government, the NHS, and Policing, at local, regional, and national levels, including as Chief People Officer and the Head of the HR profession for the NHS in England.
In 2022, Stephen was elected as the Deputy National Spokesperson for Leadership and Learning for the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and Senior Managers (SOLACE).
Adrian Smith, Nottinghamshire County Council – Senior Vice Chair
Adrian was appointed as the Chief Executive of Nottinghamshire County Council in 2022. He collaborates with Nottingham City, District and Borough Councils, and a range of public service partners and organisations across Nottinghamshire to ensure delivery of effective public services to residents.
Adrian played a key role in the establishment of East Midlands County Combined Authority (EMCCA); the first Combined Authority across the country. Adrian is a partner member of the Derbyshire, Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire ICB Cluster Board.
As well as having been a Director within EM DevCO, Adrian holds or has held a number of external roles including with Midlands Connect, Midlands Engine and the D2N2, as well as having been the Chair of the Midlands ADEPT Board and a member of the ADEPT Leadership Team.
Before stepping into the role of Chief Executive, Adrian worked as Nottinghamshire County Council’s Director of Place and Deputy Chief Executive.
Adele Wylie, North Northamptonshire Council – Junior Vice Chair
Adele began her role as Chief Executive of North Northamptonshire Council in January 2024, but has been with the new authority since its beginnings in April 2021, as the Council’s Executive Director of Customer and Governance, the Monitoring Officer and also the interim Deputy Chief Executive.
Adele brings a wealth of public sector leadership experience and has a strong record of driving excellence in public service delivery. Her experience includes responsibilities in HR, Customer Services, Legal and Democratic, as well as the Councils Monitoring Officer and most senior lawyer. She has worked closely with elected members and the Corporate Leadership Team in setting up the new unitary authority and has been instrumental in supporting the delivery of the Corporate Plan.
Prior to this role, Adele held senior positions, as Director of Governance and Regulatory Services at Melton Borough Council with responsibilities including environmental health, licensing and enforcement and Head of Service at Rutland County Council, where she led both in-house services and delivered financial and operational efficiencies in outsourced services.
As a successful strategic leader, Adele is passionate about our ambition to become an Employer of Choice and “growing our own talent” is essential to this. North Northamptonshire Council and its partners have big ambitions for North Northamptonshire, and Adele is proud to be leading North Northamptonshire Council to deliver this.
Nicole Wood, Essex County Council – Honorary Treasurer
Nicole Wood has been the Chief Executive of Essex County Council (ECC) since February 2025. She is leading the council through a once-in-a-generation Local Government Reorganisation as part of the Priority Programme for LGR and Devolution. Nicole provides a day to day focus on delivering Everyone’s Essex, the political vision and plan to 2028.
Nicole has a deep passion for Essex and ECC, having contributed to its improvement and transformation across various services over many years. She takes immense pride in Essex’s numerous achievements and accolades – not least its national excellence in Children’s services and being in the top 3 most productive councils in the country (Impower Index).
Nicole joined ECC in 2008, bringing with her valuable experience from Hackney, the Audit Commission, and Oldham Council. Throughout her tenure at ECC, she has held multiple roles, steadily advancing her career through both ‘front facing’ and corporate roles.
She has further spent nearly 3 years as a commissioner appointed by the Secretary of State for support at Thurrock Council, helping them on their improvement journey.
Richard Flinton, North Yorkshire Council – Secretary
Richard has been Chief Executive since July 2010 and has worked for NYCC for over 30 years – first joining as Trainee Trading Standard Officer, becoming Assistant Head of Trading Standards before using his background in economics to lead the Economic Development Team, then Assistant Chief Executive in 2005 followed by Director of Business & Environmental Services. As Chief Executive, Richard has covered statutory roles of Director of Children & Young Peoples service and Health & Adult Services at different times during the last 8 years and has detailed knowledge of the council and North Yorkshire.
Richard chairs North Yorkshire Chief Executives group, North Yorkshire Local Resilience Forum and in 2014 chaired the Local Authority Delivery Group which co-ordinated the delivery of the Tour de France Grand Départ in Yorkshire. Since the inception of Tour de Yorkshire, Richard has been a member of the Tour de Yorkshire Steering Group and more recently the Board of Yorkshire 2019 World Cycling Championships, leading local authority delivery arrangements. He is also lead Chief Executive for Yorkshire & Humber on children’s services.
Richard was admitted to the College of Fellows (CoF) during the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) Conference in June 2016. He is Honorary Secretary of The Association of County Chief Executives (ACCE) and also lead officer for ACCE on finance issues. He sits as a member of the national steering group looking at future local government funding. Richard was also appointed to the Ministerial Sounding Board for children’s services.