Jo Walker announced as Gloucestershire County Council’s new Chief Executive

Following an extensive two-day interview process earlier last week, Jo Walker has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of Gloucestershire County Council.

Jo is currently Chief Executive of North Somerset Council, a unitary authority, a role she has held for the past six years, which included providing effective leadership through Covid, ensuring service continuity for residents. As part of her current role, Jo is also a Chief Executive representative for the West of England working with both the West of England Combined Authority and the Western Gateway regional partnership, securing millions of pounds in central government funding to enhance the economic and social landscape, delivering inward investment, local infrastructure, and housing in North Somerset to improve outcomes for local people.

Jo also sits on the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board for the past six years and has Chaired the Mental Health, Learning Disability and Autism Health System Transformation Board, to influence change that will reduce health inequalities for North Somerset residents and communities. She is also the lead Chief Executive in the South West for Finance and Children’s Services, advocating and lobbying government officials and ministers on behalf of all South West Councils.

Jo started her career at Gloucestershire County Council as a graduate trainee and worked her way up to become Director of Highways, Transport and Waste and then Director of Finance and Corporate Services, before leaving to become Chief Executive at North Somerset Council.

Subject to Full Council approval on Wednesday (19 February), Jo is expected to take up her new role by 19 May.

Jo Walker said: “It is a great privilege to have been offered this amazing job, it is an exceptional role in an incredible county.

“As my home for the past 36 years, Gloucestershire already holds a very special place in my heart and having already spent more than 30 years of my working life at Gloucestershire County Council, so does the council. I have a deep commitment to the county and its people. I can’t wait to get started and do all I can to support the council, working alongside all elected members and staff to continue delivering for our communities and build on the strengths we have to achieve the shared ambition we have for Gloucestershire – reducing health inequalities, boost skills, attracting investment and jobs, whilst delivering great services for our residents.

“I am clear that we will not improve outcomes for residents alone – I am committed to building strong working relationships with our partners, across the public and private sector, to make sure we always do our collective best for Gloucestershire.”

Cllr Stephen Davies, Leader of the Council and Chair of the cross-party Appointments Sub-Committee said: “Jo is an experienced chief executive with a strong track record of operating at a local, regional, and national level. When you add in her extensive knowledge and understanding of the county, whilst competition for the role was strong, Jo was the standout candidate and was the committee’s unanimous choice.

“I look forward to working with Jo as we embark on the next, exciting chapter for the county.”

As the county council’s Chief Executive, Jo will having wide ranging responsibilities and duties, including:

• Supporting elected members in shaping and delivering on a vision and priorities for Gloucestershire through the effective and efficient use of the council’s resources
• Maintaining the council’s position as a financially stable authority
• Ensuring the council delivers high quality services for the people of Gloucestershire.
• Making sure inclusion and equality are central to decision-making so that the county and the council itself is a great place for all
• Leading an organisational culture of compassionate culture of accountability and innovation
• Ensuring all the council’s statutory duties and legislative obligations are met

Jo takes over the role of Chief Executive from Pete Bungard who after 20 years in the role will retire in May.

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