Bradford City Council Kersten England has announced she will retire in June.
She joined the local authority in 2015 and said she would ‘never stop being a champion and advocate for Bradford’.
In an email to colleagues, she highlighted the city being chosen as UK City of Culture for 2025, devolution and healthcare improvements as key achievements during her tenure.
Ms England has held the role for eight years and has worked in local government for 33 in total.
She said: ‘It's been a privilege to work with so many brilliant people in the district who are so dedicated to its success.
‘I want to hand the baton over to the next chief executive to give them a great start.’
She mentioned upcoming priorities as the local elections in May, preparations for the city's year of culture, setting the authority's latest budget and launching a trust being set up to run children's services.
The decision to establish a trust followed a review that concluded the council ‘lacked the capacity and capability’ to improve children's services quickly and without help.
Bradford Council leader Susan Hinchcliffe said: ‘Her personal energy, drive and belief in our place have been tremendous but after eight years in post, I know she would now like to retire to explore other interests.’
