Mrs Margo Williamson, Chief Executive of Angus Council today, Thursday 24 August, announced her retirement.
Margo has worked for Angus Council since 2013, initially as Strategic Director of People before becoming the first female Chief Executive in Angus in 2017.
She started her career as a teacher and has served as a Programme Director with Scottish Government, a Senior Lecturer with the University of Dundee and before coming to Angus, Margo was Head of Education in South Ayrshire. After thirty years in public service, she now plans to commit more of her time to her roles with Columba 1400; Vice Chair of Dundee & Angus College Board; and being a wife, mum, and granny.
As returning officer, she has overseen two General Elections, the Scottish Government Elections and the Local Government Election. Margo was one of the Tayside CEOs to negotiate and initiate the delivery of the Tay Cities Regional Deal. The deal will see Scottish and UK Governments each invest up to £150 million in the council areas of Angus, Dundee, Fife and Perth & Kinross over 10 years, and has to date seen over £74m of Government investment and around 700 jobs created.
Margo led the Council through an incredibly challenging time during the Covid Pandemic and she also presided over Operation Unicorn, ensuring the safe passage of the late Queen Elizabeth through Angus last September.
During her time in Angus, she has worked alongside four political leaders: Cllr Iain Gaul; Cllr Bob Myles; Cllr David Fairweather; Cllr Beth Whiteside.
David Fairweather who was Leader of the Council from 2018- 2022, working alongside Margo said: “I enjoyed a close working relationship with Margo while I was Leader, and she was incredibly supportive to me at that time. The Best Value Report Angus Council received last year covering the duration of her tenure with my administration was one of the best ever written in Scotland, highlighting the ‘impressive pace of improvement since 2016’ under Margo’s leadership It also praised her close working relationship with elected members in Angus.”
Beth Whiteside, current Leader of Angus Council said: ‘As an elected member in the last council session and now as Leader for over a year, I have always found Margo to be supportive, approachable, encouraging and greatly value the sage advice and wise counsel Margo has given me. I am delighted she is now going to focus on time for herself and her family. She will be hugely missed."
Plans to appoint her successor will start immediately. Margo has agreed to stay until her successor can take up the post.