South Ribble Council appoints interim chief executive

South Ribble Borough Council has appointed Jean Hunter as its new interim chief executive.

The pair have committed to working together to bring stability and a strong vision for the future.

"I am delighted to be returning to Lancashire," said Jean, who was chief executive at South Ribble from 2000 to 2010, and has recently stepped down as chief executive for South Cambridgeshire District Council after six successful years.

In her role at South Cambridgeshire she led a major service transformation programme, saving taxpayers £5m without affecting front line services and was able to make the council not just financially sound, but no longer dependent on central government grants. She won awards for her entrepreneurial leadership, achieved the prestigious Investors in People (IIP) Gold Award, and oversaw both the Greater Cambridge City Deal and the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough devolution deal. The council will go through a thorough selection process to appoint a new permanent Chief Executive at a future date. To read more about women in senior positions at Lancashire councils, read the special feature in the new edition of Lancashire Business View.