BELFAST City Council has confirmed its chief executive Suzanne Wylie is to take on a top role with the Jersey government.
A spokesperson said Ms Wylie has been appointed chief executive and head of the public service for the States of Jersey and will start in February.
Ms Wylie began her career with the council in 1988 as an environmental health officer, before becoming director of health and environmental services and the council's first female chief executive in 2014.
Under her leadership, Belfast City Council developed an all-party endorsed 25 year plan - the Belfast Agenda - with targets to create 46,000 new jobs, regenerate the city, build 32,000 new homes and address education, job and health inequalities.
She also had an important role in brokering support for the £850m Belfast Region City Deal.
However, recently she was involved in the controversy surrounding the council's handling of IRA veteran Bobby Storey’s funeral, which took place during the Covid-19 pandemic whilst other cremations on the day were not allowed services at the site.
She later apologised to the families involved.
Ms Wylie said she was "honoured to have been appointed to this important and challenging role in Jersey".
"I look forward to being able to lead the civil service there drawing on the experience and skills I have acquired in Belfast over many years," she said.
"However, it is clearly with mixed emotions that I leave Belfast City Council, having spent my entire career there, working with some of the most talented and committed people anywhere, whom I will of course miss.
"I feel immensely privileged to have been chief executive for the last seven years and am grateful to the council and the staff teams for embracing my leadership and for delivering so well for the people of Belfast over that time."
Belfast Lord Mayor Kate Nicholl, said: "This is an exciting opportunity and I know Suzanne will bring the same passion and commitment to her new role that she has demonstrated throughout her career to date".