The West Midlands Combined Authority has appointed a permanent chief executive.
The regional council's former transport chief Laura Shoaf has taken on the role, having been appointed interim chief executive in June when previous incumbent Deborah Cadmen moved over to the same post with Birmingham City Council.
The final appointment is subject to approval at the combined authority's board later this month.
During her first five months in the role, Ms Shoaf has already overseen the delivery of the region's first international summit on climate change in partnership with UK100 and helped to secure more than £1 billion of Government funding for transport projects.
Prior to taking on the interim post, she was managing director of Transport for the West Midlands and has more than 20 years of experience of working in regeneration across the region.
Ms Shoaf joined the authority when it was initially formed in 2016.
She will continue to be chairwoman of the Urban Transport Group which comprises transport leaders from the Greater Manchester, Liverpool City Region, London, South Yorkshire, Tyne and Wear, West Midlands and West Yorkshire regions.
She said: "I am proud to call the West Midlands my home because it's a place with great people and great potential.
"I am delighted to be appointed as chief executive of the West Midlands Combined Authority where our vision is to help the region unlock its full potential to become more prosperous, better connected, healthier, fairer and greener.
"It has already been a busy few months but there are so many exciting opportunities on the horizon.
"There are some challenges we face where, by addressing them together as a region, we can truly help make a more impactful difference."
West Midlands Mayor Andy Street added: "We had some incredibly strong candidates interview for the role but I am really pleased to offer Laura the role of permanent chief executive.
"During her time as interim, Laura has shown great vision and leadership and I know in her permanent appointment she will be able to take the combined authority and the region from strength to strength."
