Inverclyde Council chief executive Louise Long MBE has announced she is leaving the local authority after eight years to join NHS Lanarkshire.

Louise will take up her new role on 5 May 2025.

Louise said: “It has been an honour and privilege to serve the people of Inverclyde for the last eight years.

“For me Inverclyde’s greatest strength is its people and I have thoroughly enjoyed meeting so many wonderful residents, business owners, and, of course, working with such a talented and dedicated council and HSCP workforce.

“While I am leaving to take on an exciting new role, I am fully focused on the job at hand and continuing to deliver for Inverclyde over the coming months.”

Louise became the first female chief executive of Inverclyde Council when she took charge in September 2021.

Prior to that, Louise was chief officer for Inverclyde Integration Joint Board (IJB) and corporate director of the Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP) at Inverclyde Council from May 2017.

She was made a Member of the British Empire (MBE) for Services to Local Government and the community of Inverclyde in the King’s New Year’s Honours List in December 2023.

Councillor Robert Moran, leader of Inverclyde Council, said: “Louise has been a terrific public sector leader, flying the flag for Inverclyde and wider local government at local and national levels.

“While we are all very sad that she is leaving, we are grateful for her support over the last eight years.

“It speaks volumes for Louise as a person and for the excellent job she has done during her eight years in Inverclyde that she has been appointed to such a prestigious position.

“She leaves with our thanks and very best wishes for the future.”

Louise has worked for 30 years in the public sector, 25 in a senior position, holding roles within education, social work and health and social care.

Previously, she was Head of Children and Families and Justice and Chief Social Work Officer at Argyll and Bute Council from 2015, starting at that council in 2012 as Head of Children’s Services.

A report is expected to go to a future meeting of the council setting out the process for recruitment to the position of chief executive of Inverclyde Council.