COUNTY chiefs have vowed to take their time and get the right person for the job after one of most powerful positions in Suffolk came up for grabs.Following news that current chief executive of Suffolk County Council Mike More has been appointed chief executive of Westminster City Council, the search is now on to find his successor.

COUNTY chiefs have vowed to take their time and get the right person for the job after one of most powerful positions in Suffolk came up for grabs.

Following news that current chief executive of Suffolk County Council Mike More has been appointed chief executive of Westminster City Council, the search is now on to find his successor.

A prestigious role commanding a salary in excess of £130,000, the vacant post is likely to have no shortage of interest.

However county chiefs today said they will not rush to fill the shoes of Mr More, who will move on in April next year, and are intent on finding an outstanding successor to take the reigns at Endeavour House.

A spokesman for Suffolk County Council said: “The process to fill the chief executive's role can take several months.

“I think it is significant when you look at the last two chief executives - Lin Homer went to the largest local authority in the country and Mike More is going to one of the most influential - you see that there must be something about Suffolk that we find very good chief executives.”

“We are looking for somebody who can manage something like 400 different professional disciplines, a budget of more than £800million and 27,000 staff.

“When you think about the range of complex issues the county managed, even in the last year, it gives you some insight into just what a challenging role it is.”

The spokesman added that the council would be proactively looking for candidates to “head hunt” as is usual with such a high-profile vacancy.

The successful candidate will face as many as four interviews prior to getting the nod.

“We will do what it takes to get the right person for Suffolk,” the spokesman said.

“It will be a wide-ranging search and we will be announcing details about it shortly.”

Mr More joined Suffolk County Council in 1999 as director of resource management.

He became chief executive in 2002.

During his time with the county council he helped deliver a number of major projects including the creation of Customer Service Direct and the University Campus Suffolk.

Rosalind Turner

Current position: Director of children and young peoples services at Suffolk County Council

A possible choice for an internal appointment and somebody who knows the ropes at Endeavour House and is respected within the council.

Graham Dixon

Current position: Director of resource management at Suffolk County Council.

Mr Dixon joined Suffolk County Council from the RAF where he enjoyed a successful career. Initially a jet pilot, he later became a senior manager and leader.

He is currently working on the securing the future project which aims to streamline the council's structure, holding the same position Mike More did before he took control at the authority.

His manner and ability in the job has impressed insiders at the council.

Andrea Hill

Current position: Chief Executive at Bedfordshire County Council

As a result of the current unitary shake-up it is feasible that time will be called on Bedfordshire County Council in preference of a number of single-tier authorities throughout the county.

If this is the case Ms Hill could be keen to find a new post.

Ms Hill was previously chief executive of Colchester Borough Council.

Her career has been spent working on council policy and strategy across the eastern region, and she spent time at Cambridge City Council as assistant chief executive, and at North Hertfordshire as director of community and policy development.

James Hehir

Current position: Chief Executive at Ipswich Borough Council.

Mr Hehir is no stranger to issues affecting Suffolk and depending on the outcome of a review into the possibility of a shake-up in county he could potentially be interested in the job.

However tensions between Ipswich Borough Council and Suffolk County Council over the long-running unitary saga make him a rank outsider for the post.

The Unknown candidate

After recruiting internally when Mr More was appointed in 2002, it is possible that councillors will appoint an outsider this time around.

No one had predicted her appointment when Mr More's predecessor Lin Homer arrived in the Mid-1990s and a smiliar outsider is a distinct possibility.