Gloucestershire County Council has chosen a new chief executive. Jo Walker is currently head of North Somerset Council, a role she has held for the past six years.
She is also a chief executive representative for the West of England, working with the West of England Combined Authority and the Western Gateway regional partnership.
Ms Walker will take over from Pete Bungard who is retiring in May after 20 years. The appointment is subject to Full Council approval on February 19, with Ms Walker expected to take up the role by May 19.
“It is a great privilege to have been offered this amazing job, it is an exceptional role in an incredible county," she said. “As my home for the past 36 years, Gloucestershire already holds a very special place in my heart."
Ms Walker started her career at Gloucestershire County Council as a graduate trainee and worked her way up to become director of highways, transport and waste and later director of finance and corporate services, before leaving to become chief executive at North Somerset Council.
She currently sits on the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire integrated care board and has chaired the mental health, learning disability and autism health system transformation board.
She is also the lead chief executive in the South West for finance and children’s services, advocating and lobbying government officials and ministers on behalf of all South West Councils.
Cllr Stephen Davies, leader of the council and chair of the cross-party appointments sub-committee, added: “Jo is an experienced chief executive with a strong track record of operating at a local, regional, and national level.
"When you add in her extensive knowledge and understanding of the county, whilst competition for the role was strong, Jo was the standout candidate and was the committee’s unanimous choice."
