Margaret Asquith joined Darlington Borough Council in July 2002 as director of social services.
She started her managerial career as the team manager for Lancashire County Council and later became its district manager and head of childcare practice and family support.
In 1999, she became head of children's services for Newcastle City Council's social services.
She was seconded to head of commissioning in 2000 and returned as head of children's services in 2001 before moving to Darlington.
Last year, while Ms Asquith was director of social services for Darlington council, the department became one of only 27 nationally to receive an improved score in the Commission for Social Care Inspection ratings.
The commission gave Darlington a two star rating in a system which ranks all social services from three stars for top teams to zero stars for the worst performers.
The previous year, the council had received one star.
Ms Asquith was then appointed as the director of Darlington council's new children service's department. The department brought together the council's education and social services departments for the first time.
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