East Staffordshire BC's chief executive, Jeanette McGarry, has left her post ‘by mutual consent' with the council, it emerged last week. Mrs McGarry had been suspended on full pay (see The MJ, 27 November) after less than 12 months in the job, but the council refused to give details of the reasons for the suspension, or the severance package. Secretary of chief executives union ALACE, Alastair Robertson, said: ‘We will be doing all we can to support Mrs McGarry and help her back into a senior job in local government as soon as possible – if that is what she chooses to do. Her commitment to public service and her professional drive are clear, and she deserves to be managing at a top level,' he added. Mrs McGarry's successes during her time at the council include: * cross-border regeneration projects with neighbouring councils * a re-crafting of capital spending across the council * better communication between staff * a root-and-branch review of spending. Mrs McGarry replaced former chief executive, Marie Ainsworth, who died of cancer.