A COUNCIL director has been chosen to lead a southern authority.

Rachael Shimmin, corporate director of children and adults services at Durham County Council, is to become chief executive of Buckinghamshire County Council.

Ms Shimmin joined Durham’s corporate management team in 2006, took up her current role in 2012 and was awarded an OBE in 2014 for services to social care.

Council leader Simon Henig said: “Rachael is an extremely experienced and accomplished senior officer with a strong and well demonstrated background in local government.

“Whilst we will be sorry to see her go the role of chief executive at Buckinghamshire County Council is clearly an opportunity not to be missed and we wish her the very best in her future career.”

Chief executive Terry Collins said: “I have worked alongside Rachael for seven years and I am continually impressed by her commitment, knowledge and focus during what has been a time of huge transformation in local government.

“Rachael played a key part in the launch of this council as a unitary and subsequently in delivering high quality services alongside crucial financial savings.

“I would like to thank Rachael for her fantastic commitment and to say, on a personal note, I will miss her valued input at senior management level.”

Ms Shimmin’s appointment is subject to ratification by Buckinghamshire County Council on Thursday, April 28. She will take up her new role later in the year.

Durham got a new chief executive earlier this year and the corporate director for resources, Don McLure, is to retire in May.