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Bristol City Council’s chief executive resigns
Bristol City Council’s chief executive has announced her resignation less than seven months after securing the job.
Anna Klonowski says she made the decision to stand down to focus on her role as primary carer for her parents, who are suffering with declining health.
Mayor Marvin Rees, who appointed her to the position in February this year, says he is fully supportive of the move and has confirmed the council won’t immediately be seeking a ‘like-for-like’ replacement for the £160,000 a year position.
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“This has been an incredibly difficult decision to make because I am hugely committed to Bristol and its improvement journey,” said Klonowski.
“However, my family has to come first and with my parents’ health declining, including my mother’s life limiting illness, my duties as a daughter are my top priority.
“Of course many of the difficulties faced by the council are not of its own making, but I am confident that the improvements I have made alongside the mayor will stand it in a far better stead.
“It has been a true privilege to serve the people of Bristol over the past couple of years and I will miss it tremendously.”
Describing herself as “Anglo Polish working class”, Klonowski worked in local government, health, with the Metropolitan Police and in consultancy roles, before landing the city council’s top job and becoming its most powerful unelected official.
Marvin Rees has supported her decision to step down
Commenting on the resignation, Rees said: “Anna has brought true passion and dedication to this role and I am very grateful for everything she has contributed, not only as chief executive, but also in her preceding roles at the council. I respect and fully support her decision and wish her and her family the very best.
“We will take some time to carefully consider the future shape of the council’s management, meaning we will not immediately seek a like-for-like replacement.
“However, business as usual continues and arrangements for the statutory designation of ‘head of paid service’ will be put in place before Anna departs.”
Read more: Anna Klonowski becomes council chief exec
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