A new chief executive has been appointed at Gedling Borough Council.
Karen Bradford, who is currently the deputy chief executive and monitoring officer at North Kesteven District Council, will become the first female chief executive at Gedling Borough Council since it was created in 1974.
She was born in Netherfield and lived in the borough for 30 years, attending Carlton Le Willows School and starting her career at Nottingham City Council.
Karen was selected from a long list of 26 applicants, shortlisted down to six candidates who were all rigorously tested over the two days.
Leader of Gedling Borough Council, Councillor John Clarke said:“Karen’s strong track record in local government, her range of experience and skills, along with her clear passion for Gedling as a place and community made her the stand out candidate to be our new Chief Executive.
“Karen will bring a real passion, energy and drive to the role of Chief Executive and will contribute significantly to helping us continue to serve people and improve lives in challenging times.”
Karen Bradford said: “I am delighted to take up this position with Gedling Borough Council and look forward to being able to join the team in the autumn, focused on building financial stability, investing in services and exploring opportunities for economic development.
“I am honoured to be able to lead the Gedling team in delivering The Gedling Plan for the future growth and prosperity of the borough and its communities.”
Leader of North Kesteven District Council, Cllr Richard Wright, said:
“Our loss is Gedling’s gain and we wish Karen all the best in her new role. It is a fantastic opportunity for her, and we are confident that Gedling will benefit greatly from her leadership, drive and enthusiasm.
“Here in North Kesteven she has had a significant impact in leading an extensive and transformative investment across our leisure and cultural services, and in the sphere of economic development, guided by her passion for community engagement and her inestimable personal skills; collaborating with partners to deliver the highest quality services whilst achieving best value for all.”
Karen’s appointment will now be subject to Full Council approval on August 8. It’s expected that Karen will join Gedling Borough Council at the start of November.
