Ian Gallin, new chief executive of St Edmundsbury Borough Council and Forest Heath District Council

A NEW chief executive has been appointed to lead two west Suffolk councils.

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The appointment of Ian Gallin, recently at Plymouth City Council, was formally approved at a salary of £105,000 by Forest Heath District Council and St Edmundsbury Borough Council at separate meetings last night.

John Griffiths, leader of St Edmundsbury Borough Council, said: “We unanimously selected Ian from a very strong field of candidates and I am delighted that both councils have now endorsed his appointment.

“I believe he has exactly the right skills, the drive and enthusiasm to help take Forest Heath and St Edmundsbury forward in the challenging but exciting times ahead for west Suffolk and the people we serve here.”

James Waters, leader of Forest Heath District Council, said: “This is going to be a hugely challenging job and I am confident we have a strong chief executive to work with the strong political leadership we have here in west Suffolk.

“Ian brings with him a wealth of experience which will help not only to drive shared services forward, but will also give us a firm business focus and put us in the position of working with other partners beyond the boundaries of Suffolk.”

Both leaders paid tribute to the outgoing chief executives, David Burnip (Forest Heath) and Geoff Rivers (St Edmundsbury).