Minister congratulates newly appointed CEO of ‘super council’

Mrs Donaghy – who currently holds the top job on Ballymena Borough Council – will start work as CEO designate in the near future to lead the preparations and convergence work for the new council, which is set to take over from Larne, Carrickfergus and Ballymena councils on April 1, 2015. She will then take up the position of chief executive of the new council from this date.

Mr Durkan said: “I extend my warm congratulations to Anne and wish her well in the journey ahead.

“As new structures are being put in place which will transform local government, the real drive behind the transformation will be the leadership and partnership working of elected members and council staff. It will be their dedication, determination and drive, their courage and imagination, their goodwill and generosity of spirit which will deliver a much more effective, efficient, citizen centred and responsive system of local government.

“Anne’s appointment is the next important step in Mid and East Antrim’s transition towards this.”

Elections to the new 11 councils will take place on May 22, 2014. At this stage the new councils will operate in ‘shadow form’ until they take over on 1 April 2015. During this period it will be business as usual for the current 26 councils.