After eight years as Chief Executive at Islington Council, Lesley Seary this week announced that she will be retiring in the coming weeks.

Responding to the announcement, Leader of the Council, Cllr Richard Watts said: “I have been lucky to have such a strong and experienced Chief Executive in place throughout my time as Leader.”

When she took up the Chief Executive post at Islington in 2011, she joined only a handful of women to lead a London local authority.

She is passionate about supporting more women and people from BAME backgrounds into leadership roles and as part of this, chairs the London-wide Leadership Programme – a major leadership programme designed to support the development of senior staff. She also mentors aspiring leaders, volunteering her time to help individuals take the next step in their careers.

The process of recruiting Islington’s new Chief Executive will begin shortly.