Improvement Service appoints interim chief executive

The Improvement Service has appointed Sarah Gadsden as interim chief executive.

She will take up the post initially for eight months and will succeed Colin Mair, who retires at the end of this month.

Gadsden is currently director of strategic development and collaboration within the organisation, which helps councils and their partners to improve the health, quality of life and opportunities of all people in Scotland.

Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) president Alison Evison, who chaired the recruitment panel, said: "I am very pleased to announce that Sarah Gadsden has been appointed as the interim chief executive of the Improvement Service. 

“The quality of candidates was high and I am sure that Sarah will bring drive, experience and passion to the role and she was the unanimous choice of the interview panel.

"I also want to take this opportunity to thank Colin Mair for his contribution both to the Improvement Service and Scottish local government over the last decade or so and wish him all the very best for the future.”

Commenting on her appointment, Gadsden said Scotland’s councils do a “fabulous job every day delivering essential services for our communities” and she hopes to ensure that the Improvement Service continues to develop and support the local government improvement agenda.

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