The legal chief of Gateshead Council is tipped to become the local authority’s next chief executive.
A special appointments panel has recommended that Roger Kelly, strategic director of legal and corporate services, take over from longstanding chief executive Les Elton. Elton, who is also a qualified solicitor, has been chief executive at Gateshead for 20 years. He retires at the end of March 2004.
Kelly has been with the council for 16 years and has played a key role overseeing the new arts and cultural developments on Gateshead Quays.
The council will be called to approve the recommendation on Friday 26 September. A new legal chief will then be sought.
