Dr Sarah Gadsden appointed chief executive of the Improvement Service

Dr Sarah Gadsden has been appointed the permanent chief executive of the Improvement Service, the organisation has announced.

The interim chief executive since March 2018, Gadsden said it was a “privilege and an honour” to be confirmed in the role permanently.

Gadsden said: “Scotland’s councils do a superb job every day delivering essential services for our communities and I will make sure that the Improvement Service continues to develop and support the local government improvement agenda.

“There is no doubt that the coming weeks and months will be challenging for all of us in the Scottish local government community and at this turbulent time I will be hitting the ground running to provide support to councils for COVID-19 where required.

"But I believe that both myself and the team have the ideas, skill set and energy, to meet whatever comes at us and I cannot wait to get started and work with colleagues in COSLA, SOLACE, our member councils and wider public service partners.”

Gadsden has a PhD in human resource management and an honours degree in administration and business law.

Alison Evison, COSLA president and chair of the Improvement Service board, said: “After a thorough and rigorous search process, I am delighted to announce that Dr Sarah Gadsden has agreed to take up the permanent chief executive post with the Improvement Service.

"The quality of candidates was very high and I am delighted that there was such a high level of interest in one of the top jobs in Scottish local government.

"I look forward to working with Sarah to build on the good work of the Improvement Service and to develop its potential, as we respond to the current challenges and prepare for demands of the future.”