A council director is to take up a new role after 20 years with a local authority.

Sayyed Osman MBE, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s Strategic Director for Adult Social Care and Health left his office in Duke Street for the final time this week.

Sayyed is moving on to take up the post of Deputy Chief Executive for People Services at Oldham Council.

Sayyed, who has lived in Blackburn most of his life, has given over 30 years’ service to the public sector. He is only handful of people from an Asian background who work at leadership level in the North West of England.

Sayyed began his career in what was then the Council’s housing department, managing a variety of strands including planned maintenance, improvement schemes, community support and anti-social behaviour.

Over the next decade, Sayyed climbed the ladder in a number of roles in social housing providers including Anchor Trust and the Guinness Trust where he was Head of Regeneration and Investment for the North Region.

Sayyed said: “I have been very proud and privileged to serve as a chief officer at Blackburn with Darwen.

"This borough is a magical place – we find ways of doing things here that makes us quite unique. We work under the ethos of doing things better for our residents and strive to make a difference.

“In life generally, it’s very important to me to give, and I have tried my best to give as much as I could to this borough. I’ve tried to make a positive difference and to have a big heart in the way I go about my work.

“I am definitely a better person for the 20 years that I have worked for Blackburn with Darwen. I’ve grown as a person and as a director, and I feel I’m ready now to take on my next challenge.

“Most of all, I will miss the great people that I have had the pleasure of working with. I have appointed many colleagues in their jobs and have taken great pride in being able to develop people.

“I’m going to be really sad to leave but the time is right.”

Sayyed’s achievements of the last two decades include developing the Housing Market Renewal programme for Blackburn with Darwen, and bringing over £200m investment into the borough and he led major events such as the first Festival of Making, royal and ministerial visits, and responses to emergencies such as the floods in Darwen and the Paterson Street fire.

He also led the Council’s flagship ‘Your Community, Your Call’ programme designed to empower communities to get involved directly in improving their neighbourhoods.

Coun Mohammed Khan CBE, Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council, said: “During his time at the Council, Sayyed has had responsibility for a wide range of portfolios.

“He has demonstrated aspirational leadership with a strong vision of working in partnership – with the police, with health authorities and with other local partners – always with the objective of making a real difference for the people of Blackburn with Darwen.

“Sayyed’s passion for this borough is outstanding and he has served our communities very well, treating them with real distinction and respect. “I will miss Sayyed, but I’m very pleased that I have had the chance to work closely with him over the last 20 years. I am grateful for the advice and support he has given to me personally in my role as Council leader.”

Denise Park, Blackburn with Darwen Council Chief Executive, added: “As the Council’s longest serving chief officer, Sayyed has handled a huge number of projects – from the days of Housing Market Renewal, to the creation of Darwen Aldridge Community Academy, and the very latest Albion Mill development, to name just a few.

“Sayyed has always been on hand to share his sage advice, not just with me and his fellow directors, but with his teams and other colleagues too. That’s something we will all miss – both his wisdom and the way he always makes time for others."