Harlow’s HTS boss moves to new job in Birmingham
Business / Tue 15th Jul 2025 at 09:19am
THE boss at HTS in Harlow has moved on to a new job in Birmingham.
David Morrissey is the new group managing director of Acivico Group reports Construction Index.
Acivico was established in 2012 on the transfer of Birmingham City Council’s building control service and other statutory functions. It remains owned by the city council.
Morrissey joins Acivico from HTS Group Ltd (formerly Harlow Trading Services), the building and grounds maintenance business of Harlow Council, where he was managing director.
He said: “I’m delighted to be joining Acivico at such an exciting time,” he said. “The business has a strong foundation and a clear ambition to grow and diversify. I look forward to working with the team, our partners, and stakeholders to build on that momentum – focusing on innovation, collaboration, and delivering high-quality outcomes that will make a lasting impact.”
Acivico board chair David Powell commented: “David impressed us with his strategic skills, delivery focus, and consultative approach. His experience and leadership style are a great fit for Acivico as we continue to grow and evolve.”
jarrett
2025-07-15 10:55:07
Hope they do better than the bin men.
David Forman
2025-07-15 10:59:48
David Morrissey was only appointed Managing Director at HTS in January 2024, although he was the interim managing director from November 2023. With just 20 months at HTS it begs two questions: was he a duff appointment in the first place or did relations with council leader Dan Swords sour over time? In any event check out original appointment article from 16 January 2024: https://www.yourharlow.com/2024/01/16/new-managing-director-appointed-at-hts/
Tim
2025-07-15 12:08:30
He was useless at hts
Tim
2025-07-15 12:18:32
David – I understand that Mr Morrisey was popular with both employees and trade unions and was seen to have a strong moral compass on how things should be done and people should be treated. So perhaps you are right insomuch as his relationship with Mr Swords soured, and dare I suggest that having read many an article from Mr Swords, might this be due to a lack of humility or any recognition that Mr Morrisey is absolutely correct in his management style. Acivico Groups gain HTS's loss I'm afraid...
A B
2025-07-15 13:52:31
Perhaps Mr Morrissey has jumped off the sinking ship.
David Forman
2025-07-15 16:22:40
Tim, I can imagine that Mr Morrissey "being popular with trade unions" would irritate Dan Swords.
David Forman
2025-07-15 16:27:11
The two key words from Acivico board chair David Powell describing Mr Morrissey's leadership style are "consultative approach".
Jason
2025-07-15 19:41:14
Good luck David have a lot of respect for you Thank you
Phil
2025-07-15 21:37:37
Always had an open door policy, knew what was coming and stepped away…
Adrienne
2025-07-16 02:53:26
Do you know since 2023 I have not heard hardly a word from any unions.Even though they are sort of represented in this paper. What on earth is there take . I presume someone has been gathering me momentum In gathering support for the helpless in parliament. Well I know who that is ? Has everyone turned soft.Is anybody really got the strength to make a bit of a bigger impact. Hmm There seems to be alot of slagging off.But in my opinion no real headway . I believe this is because everyone (me included). We obviously are making headway in Parliament. And that is I believe a direct response to what has been happening today on this newspaper. People like us are the only ones left to speak up and make a big impact . I made a little headway with Mr Swords by making it clear on this paper that the public needed to be informed. As expected he did respond But unless someone is prepared to get into the council and really shake it up a bit get real communication going. This situation i fear will carry on. I did respect Cllr Griggs for speaking up. Although,l agreed with the words. It was a brave thing to do. It is a Tory Council. But he seems exhausted and that showed in his speech. He does work hard. I think the council are being muffled. If we are not careful we will become sheep. Possibly, Birmingham may be the next money earner for Hrs. You have to be treated with some respect to carry on working,, direction. Dan Swords is obviously working for some portfolio collection company.Thats my view. Obviously,that is only heresy and should be taken last like that Some of these companies can be ruthless bullying and bulldozering through England's towns, big towns and spaces Just to make a fast buck. So even though the gentleman has left Harlow. He has trotted off to a big town. If you can make any sense of this post.You maybe will understand what I do. They seemed to have trotted off to pastures greener to rip some other f......r off. We still don't know who got the money that was written of. But any decent accountant will find that out. That is my very loose guess By shaking the tree hard enough we(although we may not realise it now).And when I say we I mean Harlow Have been ripped off again. Excuse me but as THERE doesn't seem to be an up and down button on this keyboard so there is stuff underneath.Soiry Editor.Hugs. We as well as
James Gamble
2025-07-16 09:12:13
HTS is a Local Authority Trading Company (LATCo) wholly owned by Harlow Council, as such my understanding is that it is run separately and Councillors are not allowed to interfere in the running of the day to day works. The only thing they do have influence over is the CEO and the directors. Feeling in HTS amoung senior staff is a lack of respect from councillors which suggests the councillors are trying to interfere in business matters. As for the Unions they are not involved in this fiasco and never have. In the last 3 years HTS has had at least four CEO's and at least three other directors have either jumped ship or been pushed. It costs money to get rid of directors and more to replace them. To my understanding HTS creates money for Harlow Council but at this rate of change that will not continue.
Mark
2025-07-16 09:46:03
All the top tier of the Council have left since 2021, senior officers replacing them frequently stay a very short time and then they leave too. Now senior staff in HTS are leaving. perhaps Councillor Swords needs to ask why nobody seems to want to work with him?
Nicholas Taylor
2025-07-16 11:20:18
In my 20+ years at Harlow Council, Councillors made policy and officers ran the council on a day to day basis taking full account of the policy. What we have now is what is called a strong leadership model, where basically the Leader (Cllr Swords) is running the organisation on a day to day basis as a full time job. Since May 2021 he and his Conservative colleagues have seen existing senior and other staff leave the organistion and others they have appointed come and go. Lets be frank, Cllr Swords has only been out of school a few years, has no (I believe) any qualifications in any aspect of local government or widespread expereince in general. As someone who spent years qualifiying in my field of work, I can say it comes as no surprise that senior officers are leaving in droves because of the way the council is being run.
Tim
2025-07-16 12:14:27
David - enter Mr Pace Interim Business Change Director at HTS appointed by Mr Swords, tasked with removing the waste and alleged disproportionate level of senior management (quoting Mr Swords) in what might be argued in a poor and inappropriate way, whilst Mr Swords appoints a new top level team at HDC! James - the HTS contract comes to an end in January 2027 and it is clear to see where this is all heading, 'back to the future' pre 2003. Nicholas, don't always agree with your commentary, but a fair summary. There is a saying, be careful what you wish for and at the moment Mr Swords is a big fish in a small pond, but may well end up a small fish in a big pond if unitary authorities happens.
Nicholas Taylor
2025-07-16 12:49:08
Tim, your last sentence echos what I have said elsewhere. What is clear is that the councillors representing Harlow will be in a minority in a new authority and if the polls are to be believed, Reform will bulldoze the Conservatives and Labour Parties when the elections for the Unitary Authority take place.
Leave a Comment Below:
15 Comments for Harlow’s HTS boss moves to new job in Birmingham: