A new Chief Executive at South Cambridgeshire District Council
23 July 2010
Jean Hunter, 53, from Lancashire was confirmed as the new Chief Executive at
South Cambridgeshire District Council at a meeting of the council this afternoon (Thursday).
Jean was appointed following a comprehensive selection process. The outgoing Chief Executive, Greg Harlock, 59, announced his retirement on February 26.
He has spent more than 40 years in local government and took over as chief executive and chief finance officer in 2006.
Greg has served six months' notice and will depart on August 31.
Jean is currently Chief Executive of South Ribble Borough Council. She has held senior positions in local government for more than 20 years, initially with Leicester City Council and then as Chief Executive at East Hampshire District Council prior to joining South Ribble in June 2000.
Jean plays an active role in the region and sub-region and has held a number of positions including chairing Team Lancashire, Lancashire Sport, Lancashire Children's Trust Executive Board and the North West Programme and Project Management Board.
She was instrumental in setting up the North West Improvement and Efficiency Partnership whilst on a part-time secondment to GONW (Government Office of the North West) and currently represents Lancashire on the Partnership as well as nationally on the LGA District Chief Executives' Board.
Prior to joining local government, Jean worked in the private sector for a number of companies including Granada Television, Beecham Consumer Products and Hay Management Consultants. Her speciality was information management, marketing, acquisition and merger policies and cultural change programmes. Jean has also run two companies of her own, in the transport and distribution sector and in the pharmaceutical industry.
Jean is originally from Sunderland. She is a passionate Sunderland supporter and season ticket holder. In addition to this and the day job, Jean has three older step children, a daughter who has just finished university, 11-year-old twin girls and a six-year old grandson. All of this leaves little time for hobbies, although she still occasionally dabbles at her dream of becoming a professional photographer.