MANDY Bishop has been revealed as the new chief executive of North Somerset Council.

The announcement comes after an extensive two-day interview process that took place last week.

Ms Bishop is expected to be formally appointed at today’s Full Council meeting (May 13).

The role will see Ms Bishop return to NSC having previously been an assistant director at the authority and comes with a salary believed to be more than £150,000. In 2022/23, the previous chief executive, Jo Walker, was employed with a salary of some £164,682, plus a pension of £39,194 – a total package of £203,876.

Ms Bishop left NSC in 2018 to take a role at Bath and North East Somerset Council (B&NES) as director of environment, before she became chief operating officer in October 2020.

The council said she brings more than 25 years’ experience in “driving performance, service quality, value and efficiency and engaging partners and communities in delivering a common vision and priorities”.

Living in North Somerset, Mandy raised her family in the district and is “very much part of the local community”, a spokesperson said.

“She enjoys North Somerset’s beautiful rural areas, seafronts, thriving economies whilst have accessed quality services such as local schools, libraries, leisure facilities and health services.”

Ms Bishop said: “I am honoured to be returning to the council as the chief executive and excited about the opportunities ahead.

“I look forward to working with colleagues and partners to deliver the best outcomes for the communities of North Somerset.”

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Cllr Mike Bell, leader of NSC, said: “We’d like to welcome Mandy Bishop as our new chief executive after an incredibly strong recruitment process.

“It’s great to welcome Mandy back to North Somerset Council, who I know will be a great asset for our region and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience.

“It’s a great time to join the council with a number of key projects on the horizon. These include delivering Banwell Bypass, the Metrowest railway line from Portishead to Bristol, renovating Birnbeck Pier and the Tropicana, growing our economy and progressing devolution, where our aim is to join the West of England Combined Authority Area.

“We’re looking forward to Mandy starting and continuing to make North Somerset a great place to live, work and visit.”

She is expected to start in August.