Design Council’s Tony Burton redundant after six months as director of policy and communications
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The Design Council’s director of policy and communications Tony Burton has been made redundant, having completed just six months in the role.
Tony Burton
The Design Council’s Director of Policy & Communications Tony Burton has been made redundant, having completed just six months in the role.
According to Burton and the Design Council, it was felt there was duplication between the roles of Burton and incoming chief executive John Mathers.
‘I have enjoyed my all too brief immersion in the design world and am a convert to the power of design thinking’, says Burton. Inevitably, I am disappointed by the way things have unfolded, having been head-hunted for the role there as Director of Policy & Communications just six months ago.’
He adds, ‘I hope the Design Council (including Cabe) staff succeed in establishing the organisation on an independent and sustainable footing.’
Burton’s duties will now be carried out by Design Council chief operating officer Madeline Denmead in the short term, until Mathers moves to a full-time role at the end of October.
Readers' comments (10)
Anonymous | Mon, 10 Sep 2012 8:59 pm
I don't know Tony Burton but this seems very strange. Someone is appointed "headhunted" and then made redundant 6 months later? The board of the Design Council should have a long hard look at themselves how they have treated him. They should never of "headhunted" if they knew they were going to appoint a CEO!!!!
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mark | Tue, 11 Sep 2012 11:53 am
Design Council should not have employed another CEO. Its structure is in need of radical haul and its still far too large and cumbersome. I doubt it will survive for too much longer. It should have been abolished as part of the quango review. Instead its lingering on after the pointless Temple "review" - hardly the most robust and objective analysis theres ever been!
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TOM | Tue, 11 Sep 2012 12:26 pm
If DC can do without a Policy Director with new Chief Exec, surely it can can get rid of its COO. Go to be duplication with those roles.
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Anonymous | Tue, 11 Sep 2012 4:17 pm
The BIS £4 million a year 'transitional grant' will be coming to an end in 2013 - so other sources of public sector grants need to be secured & fast.
Otherwise the DC (and to some degree it already is) will be providing design services and programmes direct to private and public sector in direct competition with the design sector.
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Anonymous | Tue, 11 Sep 2012 4:47 pm
Such a desperate shame to see what's become of the Design Council and why has Design Week never taken a critical look at what has happened to this organisation?
It's not about budget cuts or charitable status - it should never come to this - the Design Council should have focused on what it should have been doing and promoting design and its effective use throughout the business community, to government and in all stages of education.
Sympathies to Tony Burton who, by all accounts was doing a good job. How long before the next departure?
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Tom | Tue, 11 Sep 2012 10:01 pm
In reply to anonymous at 417pm and 447pm: there are no public sector grants left. The idea was that the DC would obtain revenue from the market. That will put in competition with the private sector. This is a result of the fudged and indulgent Temple "review" which was rigged, poorly executed and tried to keep a DC-lite. If the DC has any role going forward it is an advisory group focused on policy. However this now probably too late. BIS should pull the rip-cord by withdrawing it's funding and thereby close the DC down.
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dj@familyandfriends.uk.com | Thu, 13 Sep 2012 4:12 pm
Trouble is that the design Council is a dull and largely irrelevant organisation.
In my 28 years as an industry professional I have never been to an event, or received a piece of literature from them that gets me excited. Trust me, behind their hands the good and the great of design have sat along side me at various 'breakfast briefings' wondering what on earth is being discussed.
Too much talk and pages of words and not enough pictures, not enough understanding of what they do by design buyers to care that they exist.
I too remember when the DC was an exciting showcase environment for creativity back in the 80's, why has it become a dull quango?
I reckon Tony should be relieved that he got the Heave Ho.
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kieran bennett | Thu, 13 Sep 2012 4:40 pm
what a weird ill thought situation ,to put this experienced man thro,
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Anonymous | Fri, 14 Sep 2012 12:08 pm
Shame, Tony was a great find in setting up Civic Voice. What is the DC thinking!
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Michael Dawes | Tue, 30 Oct 2012 10:19 pm
Don't know about the internal affairs of the Design Council but do know about Tony. He is a tireless asset to any organisation. He will not be out of office for long.
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