Barry Rowland


Barry Alan Rowland is an English administrator and the current Chief Executive of the Falkland Islands. He previously served as Executive Director for Northumberland County Council and Chief Executive of Newcastle City Council.

Early life and career

Rowland was raised in Durham and gained an MBA from Durham University. He spent most of his career at Newcastle City Council; starting in 1979 as a management trainee, he stayed at the Council for over 30 years eventually becoming Chief Executive in 2009. Rowland entered the news in 2011 after he was caught speeding by a camera put up by his own authority.
In 2012 he left Newcastle City Council by mutual agreement, receiving £215,331 in compensation, after a public falling out with Council Leader Nick Forbes. He went on to serve as Executive Director for Northumberland County Council until August 2015 when he stepped down to "pursue fresh challenges". In May 2016 it was announced that Rowland had been appointed Chief Executive of the Falkland Islands, taking office in October 2016.
In May 2017 Rowland was appointed acting Governor of the Falkands following the "unexpected and unavoidable absence" from the Islands of both Governor Colin Roberts and the Deputy Governor.