Liverpool City Region Combined Authority announced it has appointed Katherine Fairclough as its new chief executive.

Fairclough joins Liverpool City Region from Cumbria County Council, where she has been chief executive since 2017.

She was previously deputy chief executive at Warrington Borough Council.

“Her role will involve responsibility for all functions of the Combined Authority, including Transport, Environment, Investment and Business Growth, Housing and Homelessness, Employment and Skills, Culture, Fairness and Inclusion,” said Liverpool City Region.

“A top priority will be taking forward the Combined Authority’s work on economic recovery from Covid-19, working with the City Region’s six Local Authorities and partners in business and civic institutions.

“Katherine takes up the role following a rigorous recruitment process and will take over from current Chief Executive, Frank Rogers, who announced his retirement last September.”

Fairclough said: “The Liverpool City Region has so many strengths – from its legendary culture and hospitality, to world-leading industries such as health and life-sciences and advanced manufacturing, to its energetic start-up community.

“But, like everywhere else, it has been hit hard by the pandemic and there is a huge amount of work to do to drive the City Region’s recovery.

“I’m looking forward to working with partners through this crucial period to achieve our vision to create a globally competitive, environmentally responsible and socially inclusive city region.”

Steve Rotheram, Metro Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, said: “This is a vital role for our City Region, and her appointment is the result of a rigorous recruitment process designed to make sure that we secured the very best candidate possible.

“I am particularly pleased that we are appointing our first woman Chief Executive, coming just a week after our City Region also welcomed its first woman Chief Constable.

“We have huge challenges ahead of us, but we also have so many positives to build on as we drive forward to recover from the pandemic and return to the progress we were making before Covid-19.

“I look forward to working with Katherine and I know that she will be a great asset to both the Combined Authority and to our City Region …

“I’d also like to once again put on public record my personal thanks to Frank Rogers, as he prepares for his retirement.

“Frank has played an absolutely pivotal role in the progress we have made in the City Region over recent years, making a huge contribution to improving the lives of the 1.6 million people we serve, with an unshakeable determination and integrity.”