City appoints first female to key chief executive job

Published on Thursday 2 September 2010 22:30

EDINBURGH City Council is to get its first female chief executive.

&#149 Sue Bruce

Sue Bruce, currently chief executive in Aberdeen, has been offered the job and the appointment will be ratified by the full council on September 16.

Ms Bruce, 54, who has worked in local government for more than three decades, began her career in education.

She was appointed as director covering education, social work, housing and cultural services in East Dunbartonshire in 2000, before becoming chief executive of the council in 2004.

She went on to take up the position of chief executive at Aberdeen City Council in December 2008, where she was faced with the "poisoned chalice" of finding 60 million of cuts in two years.

Last year she was quoted saying it could take up to five years to turn the city's position around.

During her time at Aberdeen she oversaw the complete restructuring of services and a review of service performance, which included cutting through the council's management structure and overhauling its accountability and financial performance. Her success in the role was no doubt a significant factor in her being put forward for the top job in the Capital, with the city council facing a bleak financial situation.

Ms Bruce said: "I am delighted to be recommended to council as the preferred candidate. I have enjoyed and valued my time in Aberdeen greatly, however this would have to be regarded as the pinnacle of my career.

"Edinburgh is a great city and a major European capital, and I am looking forward immensely to applying myself to the role."

The decision follows the conclusion of short-list interviews by the council's recruitment committee yesterday.

City leader Jenny Dawe added: "It is essential that we have the right calibre of chief executive for what is a difficult, but rewarding, role. We have had a strong field and a rigorous recruitment process.

"Sue has emerged from that as our preferred candidate and I am confident that her outstanding knowledge, experience and leadership will be a real asset to the council."

Ms Bruce became the first public sector leader to receive the Prince's Ambassador in Scotland Award in June, which is presented to an individual whose leadership and commitment to responsible business has resulted in changes and improvements inside their own organisation.

Ms Bruce's interests include reading and gardening, and she is a fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of arts, manufactures and commerce.

She achieved a diploma in Youth Work and Community Service from Jordanhill College and an MPhil in Government and LLB at Strathclyde University. Ms Bruce also has a Certificate in Strategic Public Sector Negotiation from the John F Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University.

Current chief executive Tom Aitchison announced in March that he would step down before the end of the year.