SOUTHAMPTON City Council’s new chief executive has been unveiled.

Dawn Baxendale will take up the post after impressing council chiefs at a round of interviews for the lead post.

The decision will be formally rubber-stamped at the authority’s next full council meeting on Wednesday, July 17.

Ms Baxendale has served as the council’s interim chief executive since March, replacing outgoing chief Alistair Neill who quit his £165,000-a-year post to run Herefordshire County Council.

Council chiefs refused to disclose her salary but it is expected to be less than his.

Ms Baxendale was promoted to interim from her role as director of environment and economy and has worked for the council for four years.

She draws on 20 years’ public sector experience – 14 serving as a senior manager delivering multi million-pound capital programmes and revenue services.

She has helped spearhead Southampton’s City Deal bid and has worked in inner city areas in Southampton, Portsmouth, Wigan, Kirklees and in rural coastal and suburban locations in the Isle of Wight, Eastleigh and Havant.

Ms Baxendale, who was selected by the council’s chief officer employment panel, said: “I am honoured that they have made this recommendation.

“I am committed to both the city, region and local government and will bring all my energy, enthusiasm and experience to build a self-confident, outward looking council to deliver its vision and objectives working with members, colleagues, business, communities, partners and government over the coming years.”

Council leader Cllr Simon Letts said he was delighted at her recommendation and added: “I have recently seen Dawn in action with the work on the City Deal and marketing the city’s investment potential.

“In the past four years and since taking on the interim chief executive role she has shown strong leadership, vision, strong commercial awareness, constructive partnership working and the ability to take people with her.

“I am confident that these qualities will be an asset in leading the council’s staff to take us from strength to strength.”