WIGAN Council has appointed a woman as chief executive for the first time.
Yorkshire woman Joyce Redfearn takes over from Steve Jones, who retires next May.
Wakefield-born Mrs Redfearn will become the council's fifth chief executive since the metropolitan borough was created in 1974.
Currently chief executive of Gloucestershire County Council, she was assistant chief executive at Bolton Council from 1988-95. She then took the lead role at Monmouthshire County Council, before moving to Gloucester in December, 2000.
Wigan Council Leader Peter Smith said: "Joyce Redfearn was the outstanding candidate in an outstanding field and we are delighted that she will be coming to Wigan. Her track record is second to none and she has all the qualities necessary to keep a high-performing authority like ours moving in the right direction."
She said: "I lived in Lancashire for seven years and it will be great to get back." Married to a Boltonian, they have two daughters, aged 18 and 15.
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