Gillian Bishop appointed Link4Life Chief Executive

Gillian Bishop appointed Link4Life Chief Executive

A new Chief Executive has been appointed at Link4Life, the Rochdale Boroughwide Cultural Trust which leads and manages culture and leisure services on behalf of Rochdale Borough Council.

Taking up her new role from 1 April 2015 will be Gillian Bishop who has served as Interim Chief Executive at Link4Life for just over a year.

Ms Bishop said: “I am delighted to be taking up this permanent role in the Rochdale borough. I have a strong belief that the social enterprise model is the way forward in ensuring a secure future for publicly owned leisure and cultural services. Rochdale has led the way in introducing that model and I look forward to taking that work further.”

She added: “My priority will be to focus on the future direction of the Trust to ensure it is best placed to meet local needs and I am looking forward to working with Board members and colleagues at Link4Life, together with Rochdale Council and wider partner organisations, to deliver on this.”

Welcoming Ms Bishop to her role, Rochdale Council Chief Executive, Steve Rumbelow said: “I have worked with Gillian in the past and I look forward to renewing this experience. This is a challenging time for the future of all public services and I am confident that Gillian will be a most valuable asset.”

Chairman of Link4Life Trustees, Clint Street, said: “The Board are delighted to have secured a permanent Chief Executive for the Trust who so clearly and ably demonstrates the passion, experience and vision we require.

“Gillian has already successfully supported the Board, in her Interim role, in establishing a three-year vision and strategy for the Trust. We look forward to continuing to work with her to deliver this vision, to develop communities that are active, creative and healthy and to ensure that Link4Life is effective and efficient in taking the lead role in delivering leisure and cultural services in the borough of Rochdale.”

Ms Bishop brings with her a wealth of experience in leading and managing a range of organisations. She joined Link4Life in her Interim role in September 2013 and was previously Corporate Director at Wigan Council. Prior to that she was Chief Executive at the North West Improvement and Efficiency Partnership from 2008 to 2010, Chief Executive at Allerdale Borough Council from 2005-2008 and Deputy Chief Executive at Rossendale Borough Council from 2003-2005. She lives locally with her family.