Howard Bernstein

British civil servant (1953–2024)

Not to be confused with Howie B.

Sir

Howard Bernstein

Bernstein in 2012

Chief executive
of Manchester City Council
In office
1998 – 31 March 2017
Monarch| Elizabeth II
Prime Minister| Tony Blair
Gordon Brown
David Cameron
Theresa May
Succeeded by| Joanne Roney
Personal details
Born|

Howard Bernstein

(1953-04-09)9 April 1953
Cheetham, Manchester, England
Died| 22 June 2024(2024-06-22) (aged 71)
Spouse|

Vanessa

(m. 2004)​

Education| Ducie High School

Sir Howard Bernstein (9 April 1953 – 22 June 2024) was a British local government officer who was the chief executive of Manchester City Council from 1998 to 2017. Originally joining the Council as a junior clerk, he became the chief executive in 1998, responsible for setting development goals and encouraging investment in the city.[1][2][3] He served as honorary professor of Politics at the University of Manchester.[4][5][6]

## Early life and education

[edit]

Bernstein was Jewish. He was born on 9 April 1953 in Cheetham Hill,[7][8] and attended the Ducie High School in Moss Side, which closed in 2003.[9][7][10][1]

## Career

[edit]

Before appointment as chief executive, Bernstein championed the Manchester Metrolink system.[1] The system became the first light-rail network to be built in a British city for over a century when it opened in the early 1990s.[11]

Bernstein also supported the creation of new areas and buildings such as the Bridgewater Hall, the Manchester Velodrome, the Manchester Arena, the City of Manchester Stadium and the Sportcity district in east Manchester which is still growing.[12][13] He was involved in the establishment of the Manchester Airports Group (MAG) in the mid-1980s and drove the expansion of the company.[8][14][15] MAG is now the largest British owned airports group in the UK, owning three airports.[16]

Bernstein's appointment followed the 1996 Manchester bombing which severely damaged much of the city centre and extensive reconstruction ensued. He was appointed Chief executive of Manchester Millennium Limited, the public/private sector task force set up by the Government and the City Council to oversee the redesign and rebuilding of the City Centre, a task which successfully delivered areas such as Piccadilly Gardens, Exchange Square, New Cathedral Street, Urbis on time and on budget.[6]

In 2003, Manchester City Council under Bernstein's civic leadership won the RIBA Client of the Year for various projects such the City of Manchester Stadium and Urbis – the only time a local government authority has won the award.[17]

He was reckoned by the Health Service Journal to be the 21st most influential person in the National Health Service in 2015 as a result of his central involvement in the reform of Healthcare in Greater Manchester.[18] In March 2016 he was appointed the leader of the Greater Manchester Sustainability and transformation plan footprint.[19] Later the same year, he announced his intention to retire in Spring 2017,[20] his final day was 31 March 2017.[21] He was succeeded by Joanne Roney in April 2017.[22] He was made Honorary Professor of Politics at The University of Manchester on 3 April 2017.[4]

In 2017, Bernstein was appointed Strategic Development Advisor at City Football Group, Manchester City F.C.'s parent company.[23]

### Awards and honours

[edit]

Bernstein was appointed Knight Bachelor "for services to the reconstruction of Manchester and the XVII Commonwealth Games" in the 2003 New Year Honours following the successful hosting of the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester.[24][25]

Bernstein held several honorary degrees, including from University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST), University of Manchester,[26] and Manchester Metropolitan University.[27][28][29] In 2017, he joined the University of Manchester as an honorary professor of politics.[30]

Bernstein was a member of the Olympic Delivery Authority, the body responsible for the delivery of venues in time for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. He served as president of Lancashire County Cricket Club[31] and one of six honorary presidents of Manchester City F.C.[32] He was a vice-president of the Jewish Leadership Council.[33]

## Personal life and death

[edit]

Bernstein's hobbies included sport, especially cricket and football.[7] He died on 22 June 2024, at the age of 71.[34]

Bernstein lived in Prestwich until his death and was survived by his wife, Vanessa, whom he married in 2004,[7] two children and three stepchildren.[1][2][3]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b c d Williams, Jennifer (2024). "Howard Bernstein, Manchester's champion, 1953–2024: The dealmaker flitted between Whitehall corridors and Middle Eastern palaces in a quest to rejuvenate his hometown". ft.com. London: Financial Times. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024. "The remaking of post-industrial Manchester ranks among the most remarkable English economic stories of recent decades. Sir Howard Bernstein was its chief author"
2. ^ a b Banfield-Nwachi, Mabel (2024). "Sir Howard Bernstein, catalyst of Manchester regeneration, dies aged 71". The Guardian. London.
3. ^ a b Anon (2024). "Tributes to man who spearheaded rebirth of a city". bbc.co.uk. BBC.
4. ^ a b "Sir Howard Bernstein accepts honorary professorship of politics at The University of Manchester". University of Manchester. 3 April 2017. Archived from the original on 5 April 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
5. ^ Linton, Deborah (2017). "Howard Bernstein: A man of the city". manchester.ac.uk. Archived from the original on 25 February 2024. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
6. ^ a b Anon (2020). "Howard Bernstein Biography". policyreview.tv. Archived from the original on 17 April 2014. Retrieved 31 March 2012.
7. ^ a b c d Anon (2010). "Bernstein, Sir Howard". Who's Who (online Oxford University Press ed.). Oxford: A & C Black. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U7354. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
8. ^ a b "Sir Howard Bernstein, brilliant council chief executive who masterminded Manchester's resurgence – obituary". The Daily Telegraph. 23 June 2024. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
9. ^ "Ducie High School". gov.uk. Archived from the original on 30 June 2022. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
10. ^ "The secret negotiations to restore Manchester to greatness | Simon Jenkins". The Guardian. 12 February 2015. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
11. ^ "The voice of authority: five minutes with Sir Howard Bernstein". The Guardian. 9 November 2010. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
12. ^ "Sir Howard Bernstein – Greater Manchester Lieutenancy". Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
13. ^ "Commonwealth Games 2002: Ex-council boss proud of legacy". 26 July 2022. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
14. ^ "Deloitte appoints Howard Bernstein as Strategic Advisor". www.consultancy.uk. 16 May 2017. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
15. ^ ybnews (21 August 2022). "Analysis: Can Bernstein weave his magic in Liverpool?". Liverpool Business News. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
16. ^ Taylor, Guy (22 May 2024). "Give us our wings, Britain's largest airport group tells next government". CityAM. Archived from the original on 24 June 2024. Retrieved 24 June 2024.
17. ^ "Manchester City Council". Architects Journal. 27 November 2003. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 3 July 2014.
18. ^ "HSJ100 2015". Health Service Journal. 23 November 2015. Archived from the original on 24 December 2015. Retrieved 23 December 2015.
19. ^ "Leaders named for eight major STP patches". Health Service Journal. 15 March 2016. Archived from the original on 17 March 2016. Retrieved 22 March 2016.
20. ^ Williams, Jennifer (15 September 2016). "Sir Howard Bernstein to stand down as chief executive of Manchester council after 45 years at town hall". manchestereveningnews.co.uk. Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 3 March 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
21. ^ Bernstein, Howard (guest); Warhurst, Nina (presenter) (31 March 2017). "Interview with Howard Bernstein". BBC North West Tonight. Event occurs at 18.30. BBC North West.
22. ^ Clarence-Smith, Louisa (16 January 2017). "Joanne Roney: Manchester City Council's new chief executive". Estates Gazette. Archived from the original on 12 March 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
23. ^ "Sir Howard Bernstein appointed Strategic Development Advisor". 6 November 2017. Archived from the original on 21 July 2022. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
24. ^ "No. 56797". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2002. p. 1.
25. ^ "Sport's New Year Honours". BBC News. 31 December 2002. Archived from the original on 23 February 2006. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
26. ^ "Howard's on map with Euro crown – Manchester Evening News". www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk. 15 February 2007. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
27. ^ University, Manchester Metropolitan. "Story, Manchester Metropolitan University". Manchester Metropolitan University. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
28. ^ "Leaders April 2009 – An Interview with Sir Howard Bernstein, Chief Executive, Manchester City Council, United Kingdom". www.leadersmag.com. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
29. ^ Obituaries (23 June 2024). "Sir Howard Bernstein, brilliant council chief executive who masterminded Manchester's resurgence – obituary". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
30. ^ "Sir Howard Bernstein". Sir Howard Bernstein. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
31. ^ "Paul Allott: Former bowler to leave Lancashire director of cricket role". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 8 June 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2021.
32. ^ "Manchester City – Corporate Information". Manchester City F.C. Retrieved 3 April 2017.
33. ^ "Vice Presidents". Jewish Leadership Council. Archived from the original on 24 March 2019. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
34. ^ Wilkinson, Damon (22 June 2024). "Sir Howard Bernstein, Manchester legend, dies". Manchester Evening News. Archived from the original on 22 June 2024. Retrieved 22 June 2024.

*[m.]: married