A NEW chief executive has been announced by Worcestershire County Council.

Paul Robinson is currently the chief Executive of Derby City Council and subject to final approval, he will take up his new post in Worcestershire in the spring.

The appointment is subject to approval at a meeting of the full council which takes place on Thursday (December 7).

He said: "I am very much looking forward to coming to Worcestershire and working closely with councillors, council staff, our partners, businesses and the community to deliver excellent services for our residents.

"Worcestershire has a great deal to offer. I aim to build on the council's strengths and together with our partners and everyone who works and lives in Worcestershire, realise the ambitions that we all have for the county.”

Mr Robinson will replace Steve Stewart who has been the interim chief executive since the departure of Clare Marchant in the summer.

The leader of Worcestershire County Council, councillor Simon Geraghty, said: "I am really pleased that we have appointed a new chief executive for the council.

"This is a really important appointment for us. We have seen a number of strong candidates but Paul stood out and he was the unanimous choice of the panel.

"He brings with him a great deal of experience of leading a range of council services. He is already a successful local government chief executive in the Midlands.

"We have an ambitious plan for Worcestershire. I am looking forward to working with Paul to turn our vision into a reality on the ground and to deliver the priorities that we have set out for the county."