The chief executive of Derry City Council is to leave her post – but not until March next year.
Sharon O’Connor.
Sharon O’Connor has confirmed she will not seek to be re-appointed to the post when her contract expires when, under the auspices of the Review of Administration which will see the biggest revamp of local authorities in Northern Ireland since 1973, all heads of councils will obliged to reapply for the new CEO positions.
The shake-up of local authorities will see Derry City Council amalgamate with Strabane District Council.
Ms O’Connor, who took up the post in November 2011, said her departure was due to “entirely personal reasons.”
She said: “I will be continuing to work at Derry City Council to support the new Council and focusing on the positive legacy of City of Culture, developing the One Plan and completing the Transforming Derry City Council process.
‘We have had a very successful year and it has been a privilege to have led Derry City Council at this exciting time.
“It has been inspirational to see One City pull together so effectively and I applaud the citizens who made this year so successful.”
A native of Belfast, Ms O’Connor is a chartered director with nearly 30 years experience in the public and private sector.
Her non-executive experience includes Arts Council NI and the BBC Broadcasting Council in Northern Ireland and prior to working in local government, she ran her own successful business and also has an extensive background in the community and voluntary sectors.
A graduate of the University of Ulster, she also holds a range of professional qualifications including Marketing and Personnel and was the first local government person in the UK to achieve Chartered Director status and was named the Institute of Directors NI Public Sector Director of the Year 09/10.
Previously Director of Development with Down District Council, she was the project Director for a range of capital programmes including the awarding winning regeneration of Newcastle, Co. Down.
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