Chief Executive Of Dumfries & Galloway Council Retires After 12 Years

Dumfries and Galloway Council Chief Executive Gavin Stevenson retired from his post on Thursday 16 December after 12 years with the local authority.

Mr Stevenson has worked in public service for more than thirty years and joined Dumfries and Galloway Council as Chief Executive in 2009. In 2015 he also became its Returning Officer, overseeing the running of elections.

Highlights include securing the Borderlands Deal, his work with young people to encourage them to live and work in Dumfries and Galloway and his impact on national and local resilience work during the Covid-19 pandemic.

He said: “It has been a privilege being the Chief Executive of Dumfries and Galloway Council and having the incredible opportunity to work with such a committed workforce.
“I am very proud of the Council’s dedicated staff and how they have risen to the unprecedented challenges of the current pandemic. Their outstanding work with local communities and people in our region every single day is truly inspirational.”

Councillor Elaine Murray, Leader of Dumfries and Galloway Council, paid tribute to a man she described as a “strategic leader”. She said: “Gavin secured the Borderlands Deal, led improvements in Best Value, and steered the Council through extremely challenging times for local government finance. We wish him well in all his future endeavours.”
Depute Leader, Councillor Rob Davidson commented: “Gavin is highly respected in Dumfries and Galloway and across Scotland as an innovative and effective chief executive. More recently his work in shaping the Council’s response to the pandemic has been exemplary.”

The recruitment process to appoint a new Chief Executive was confirmed today at a Full Council meeting; the post will be advertised early in the New Year. In addition, interim governance arrangements were agreed by councillors:
• Director Communities, Derek Crichton was appointed as Interim Chief Executive.
• Director Economy and Resources, Lorna Meahan was appointed as Returning Officer.
These arrangements will begin on Friday 17 December 2021 and remain in place until a new Chief Executive is appointed and takes up their role with the Council.