City leaders have hailed Newcastle’s outgoing council chief as “inspirational” after she announced her impending departure.
Pat Ritchie confirmed on Tuesday morning that she will be stepping down as chief executive of Newcastle City Council later this year.
The 62-year-old, the first woman to hold the top post, leaves after eight and a half years at the civic centre.
Read more: Newcastle City Council chief executive Pat Ritchie reveals she will leave top job later this year
She said she had planned to stand down last year but stayed on to lead the city’s battle against the Covid-19 pandemic, which she has described as the toughest test of her career.
Dame Jackie Daniel, chief executive of Newcastle Hospitals said: “Pat is an inspirational leader, and has steered Newcastle’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic with skill and compassion.
“She has always focussed on how we can improve the health, wealth and wellbeing of our local communities, and has encouraged us to have the highest ambitions for our communities.
“Pat leaves an important legacy of regeneration and renewal for the city. We will see the benefits of the improvements made under her leadership for years to come.”
Newcastle University vice-chancellor Chris Day added that Newcastle had become “globally recognised as a thriving city of innovation” during Ms Ritchie’s time at the council, which has included the development of the Helix science and business park alongside the university.
He said: “Pat’s drive, determination and loyalty to the city have been inspiring and her collaborative approach has enabled us to maximise the benefit we bring to local communities. I am honoured to have worked alongside her.”
Ms Ritchie, who was awarded a CBE in the most recent New Year’s Honours List, is due to step down in the autumn but will not be retiring – with the council confirming she will continue in her role as chair of the Government Property Agency.
James Ramsbotham, chief executive of the North East England Chamber of Commerce, said she had been a “great servant for Newcastle over the past eight years and has steered the council extremely well through an extraordinarily difficult period”.
Lucy Winskell OBE, chair of the North East Local Enterprise Partnership, also joined the tributes, saying: "I’d like to thank Pat for her outstanding commitment to public service throughout her career.
“Her dedication to Newcastle and to the wider North East should be celebrated and I wish her the very best of luck as she moves onto the next chapter. It’s been a privilege to work with her over the years."
Nick Cott, leader of the council’s Lib Dem opposition, added: “We recognise her contribution to the affairs of the city over many years and we thank her for her public service and commitment over that time period.
“As chief executive, Pat has helped to steer the city through some difficult times for local government, most recently during this pandemic crisis.
“She was recently honoured for her services to the city and she can look back on the legacy of the creation of good partnership arrangements and shared priorities with other organisations in the city, in both the public and private sectors, which we'll be fortunate to have in the future post-pandemic recovery plans.”
