Gateshead Council's chief executive announces she is stepping down

Sheena Ramsey, the chief executive of Gateshead Council, has announced that she will step down from her role at the end of May.

The announcement marks the end of her tenue having taken up the role more than seven years ago.

Sheena has expressed her pride in being able to undertake the role and has thanked everyone who has supported her over the years.

She commented: “I’m very proud of all that we have achieved in Gateshead and the North East over the last seven years and remain confident that we have created a strong platform on which to build for the future.

"Progress has only been possible because of the hard work and dedication of everyone involved – councillors, council colleagues, regional and national partners, business leaders, and the wider community.

"I’d like to thank them all for their support and wish them every future success. 

“This has been my dream job, bringing me home to contribute to the future of a region I care so much about and enabling me to spend some important years with my family and friends.

"Whilst this is the right time for me personally and for Gateshead to make this transition, I’m still passionate about helping the North East achieve a brighter future and look forward to continuing to play my part in achieving that.”

Councillor Martin Gannon, leader of Gateshead Council, has thanked Sheena for her support and for helping guide the Council through challenging periods.

Cllr Gannon said: "I’d like to thank Sheena for her tremendous leadership and support as she has helped the council to change and develop through the most challenging of times, achieving many positive outcomes for the people of Gateshead.  

“Sheena has been vital to the progress of the Gateshead Quays project and the creation of the Riverside Renaissance regeneration plan, played a key role in bringing the management of housing services back into the council and championed our Thrive agenda.

"The global pandemic placed extraordinary pressure on local services, and Sheena guided us throughout that most challenging of times in ways that we all appreciated.

"Sheena has always stressed the importance of us working in partnership with the wider community – and that commitment came to the fore during the pandemic.

"Sheena was instrumental in ensuring we worked in partnership with the community and voluntary sector, who played an incredible role in ensuring people got the necessary support, when and where they needed it. “At a time when many local authorities across the country are under severe financial pressure, Sheena leaves us with a clear path to budget sustainability with the adoption of a challenging but deliverable Medium Term Financial Strategy, a range of radical reviews and a key role in the new North East Mayoral Combined Authority."

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Cllr Gannon has also confirmed that the process of selecting a new chief executive is now underway following Sheena's decision to step down from the role.

He added: “Local Government has gone through the most difficult time in the last decade, but we are finally being recognised for the role we play in our local community. I’d like to thank Sheena for the part she has played in making all this happen.

“We are now in the process of appointing a new Chief Executive and will make an announcement in due course.

"In the meantime, I’m pleased that Sheena will be with us through to the end of May.”