North East Lincolnshire Council is set to appoint Tony Hunter, Liverpool City Council's executive director of community services, as its next chief executive. Mr Hunter's appointment was expected to be ratified on Wednesday, at a full council meeting, after The MJ went to press. He is expected to take up his new post in September. Mr Hunter will succeed George Krawiec, who retired in April after 35 years in local government. Mr Hunter was president of the Association of Directors of Social Services (ADSS) in 2004/5, and is currently co-chair of the ADSS' resources committee. ‘This is an exciting time to join a council very much on its way up,' said Mr Hunter. ‘I have been really impressed by the determination of the people I have met, so far, within the council and partner agencies, to work closely with North East Lincolnshire residents in achieving a clear vision for the area,' he added. Mr Hunter's career in local government also includes six years at Liverpool City Council, and eight years at East Riding of Yorkshire Council.After almost five years as chief executive of Craven DC, Gill Dixon has announced she is moving on to find new challenges. Ms Dixon said the council had met key strategic goals and now had a new administration which made the time right for a change at the top: ‘The council is at a watershed, and I recognise that the time is right for a smooth transition to a new chief executive who can assist the council to implement all of these schemes which are now fully approved and ready to go. ‘This is an exciting time for the council. I am proud to have been a part of the significant improvements achieved by the authority in recent years,' she said.
