Surrey County Council boss to leave after six years

Joanna Killian has had a "hugely positive impact" on Surrey, the council's leader says

Surrey County Council's chief executive will leave her post after six years in the position, the authority has announced.

Joanna Killian will leave in March to take a up the role of chief executive of the Local Government Association.

Tim Oliver, the leader of the council, said Ms Killian had guided the authority through "difficult changes and tough choices".

Ms Killian described Surrey as "a wonderful county".

She said: "It is with a heavy heart that I'm saying goodbye to Surrey."

The chief executive is regarded as having seen Surrey through some difficult times.

When she arrived in 2018, the council was facing significant problems with its finances and concerns about the budget.

The year before, in 2017, Surrey had made headlines over plans for a referendum on a 15% rise in council tax.

'Positive impact'

Six years on and the financial position has been described as "robust", with Mr Oliver recently stating that unlike other local authorities, including Woking, there is no immediate prospect of the council declaring itself effectively bankrupt.

Announcing her departure, Ms Killian said: "Surrey is a wonderful county, full of innovation and ambition, and the county council reflects that, with a great workforce all dedicated to improving people's lives."

Mr Oliver said Ms Killian's leadership had "a hugely positive impact".

He said: "Joanna's approachable and caring nature, coupled with fierce ambition and sharp knowledge has guided this council through difficult change, tough choices, an unstable economic and political climate, as well as the small matter of a global pandemic - all challenges in which this council has come to the fore, and delivered better outcomes for the residents of Surrey."

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