Dame Sue Bruce, the chief executive of Edinburgh city council is to retire from local government in October.
Bruce has announced plans to leave her post when she turns 60 later this year. She will formally give notice at next Thursday’s council meeting. The search for her replacement will begin immediately.
Bruce was widely seen as a positive force for property and regeneration while council chief executive, a post she took up in 2011. She previously held the same role at both Aberdeen city council and East Dunbartonshire council. Bruce began her local government career 39 years ago.
Commenting on the news, she said: “Serving as chief executive of the City of Edinburgh council, particularly during such a challenging and exciting time, has undoubtedly been the pinnacle of my career and I am proud of what we have achieved together during my time here. There is still much to do and I will continue to focus on that until I hand over to my successor.”
The Edinburgh council chief has led a project dedicated to delivering strategically important gap sites in the city centre and has helped to drive an £850m regeneration project that has seen the council provide significant sums to improve local infrastructure and public space through a new regeneration accelerator model.
Bruce was awarded the inaugural MIPIM UK city leader of the year award at last October’s MIPIM UK event in London for her work in driving the city’s economic development achievements.
She was made a Dame in the 2015 New Year’s Honours list.
lisa.pilkington@estatesgazette.com
