Warm tributes have been paid to Sue Grace, Cambridgeshire County Council’s Executive Director of Strategy and Partnerships, who will retire at the end of December after more than a decade with the authority and 26 years in local government.
Sue joined Cambridgeshire in May 2014 from Northamptonshire County Council, where she was Assistant Director for Customer and Community Services, having previously held roles at Essex County Council. Her first position in Cambridgeshire was Director of Customer Service and Transformation, later becoming Director of Customer and Digital Services – a role shared with Peterborough City Council from 2019. In September 2022, Sue was appointed Executive Director of Strategy and Partnerships following a restructure of the Council’s Leadership Team.
Throughout her career, Sue has been a strong advocate for equality, diversity and inclusion, helping the Council become more representative of the communities it serves. She also played a pivotal leadership role during the Covid-19 pandemic, coordinating the Council’s response and supporting residents through an exceptionally challenging time.
From 1 January 2026, following Sue’s retirement, the Council will reduce from five to four Executive Directors. The services that Sue has led will be restructured with resident facing community services transferring into the Place and Sustainability directorate and the other corporate and democratic functions forming a new Office of the Chief Executive.
These changes will streamline leadership, improve efficiency and reduce costs while maintaining strong community and enabling services.
Dr Stephen Moir, Chief Executive of Cambridgeshire County Council said: "Sue’s leadership and commitment to excellence have made a lasting and positive impact for Cambridgeshire and for the Council. She has guided the organisation through significant changes, which have included some of the most challenging periods in recent history with professionalism and compassion. I want to thank Sue for her outstanding contribution and wish her every happiness in her retirement. It’s been an absolute privilege to work with her."
Sue will retire on 31 December 2025.
