Sunderland City Council has launched its search to find its next chief executive following the departure of Ged Fitzgerald to head up Lancashire CC last spring. The council is offering £175,000 to the next incumbent, for whom regeneration and economic development will be a key part of the brief. The city has diversified from its former industrial base of ship-building, coal and heavy engineering to electronics and cars. One of its largest employers is Nissan, while the city is also a CLG digital challenge winner. Cllr Paul Watson, leader since May, said the council wanted a chief executive ‘with a track record of successful delivery and leadership abilitites, who also has an opportunity to bring their own thinking and vision to the job.'
