Gill Steward will join Cumbria CC as chief executive in August once the move is approved by full council. Ms Steward is the current chair of the Centre for Local Economic Strategies thinktank. She was chief executive for Bexley LBC from 2016 to 2018 and interim chief executive of West Sussex CC between 2014 and 2016.
Gillian Beasley, chief executive of Cambridgeshire CC and Peterborough City Council, is retiring. Ms Beasley has been at the helm of Peterborough for 19 years and, in addition, was six years ago appointed to run Cambridgeshire in a unique county council/unitary arrangement. In 2008 she was awarded an OBE for her work in local government.
Cumbria CC is set to appoint Gill Steward as its new chief executive.
If the move is approved at a full council meeting in June, she will take up the role in early August.
Ms Steward is the current chair of the Centre for Local Economic Strategies thinktank. She was chief executive for Bexley LBC from 2016 to 2018 and interim chief executive of West Sussex CC between 2014 and 2016.
She has a background in economic development, place and community services and was part of the executive team who oversaw the creation of Cornwall Council as a unitary authority.
Ms Steward said she looked forward to building on the county’s “very successful reputation and the fantastic work of Katherine”.