Owens to step up to top Gateshead role

Currently the council’s strategic director for integrated adult social care services, Dale Owens is expected to replace the departing Sheena Ramsey from 1 June.

A full meeting of council is expected to ratify the appointment this week after the council’s special appointments committee’s process offered up Owens as the top candidate.

He has been with Gateshead since 2022, having previously worked in a number of roles at North Yorkshire Council over seven years, and prior to that, at Hartlepool Council.

Following a national recruitment exercise, the committee shortlisted and interviewed candidates before arriving at a recommendation. This was preceded by a preliminary interview, various psychometric assessments and feedback from panels comprising various
stakeholders and partners of the council.

The special appointments committee undertook final interviews with shortlisted candidates on Monday this week. The committee was supported by its recruitment consultancy’s national local government lead with support from the service director of human resources.

Ramsey announced her intention to step down after a seven-year stint in the job in January this year. She will leave at the end of May.