Valerie Watts, the new chief executive of the Health and Social Care Board, helped Derry win its 2013 UK City of Culture bid.
During her tenure as chief executive of Derry City Council, Ms Watts was widely seen as one of the key drivers behind the successful bid.
Previously director of corporate services with east Dunbartonshire council, she was appointed as Derry City Council's chief executive in 2008 and took up the post following Anthony McGurk's retirement. As well as helping the city win its culture bid, Ms Watts also worked to sort out the financial difficulties at City of Derry airport.
Ms Watts called in trouble-shooter Albert Harrison in 2009 to implement cuts. In 2010, Ms Watts, originally from Co Down, announced she was leaving for a new £140,000 job as head of aberdeen City Council.
Derry City Council was so keen to keep her on board, they offered her an extra £10,000, but their offer was not successful.
Ms Watts spent three years as chief executive of aberdeen City Council. Earlier this month the council was criticised for deciding that 100,000 letters endorsing a "No" vote in Scotland's independence referendum in September should be sent out with council tax bills.
The SNP had called for the letters to be pulped, but the coalition of labour, Conservative and independent councillors that control the council backed the move to send them.