Beverly Owen is expected to leave Newport City Council at the end of 2026 after 11 years with the authority, bringing to a close a local government career spanning 35 years.
Owen said the decision reflected her belief that she was ready to move on, take on other professional opportunities and focus on personal priorities and family life.
She described the chief executive role as challenging and demanding, overseeing more than 600 services and thousands of employees.
The council leader said Owen had led Newport City Council with distinction and helped guide it through difficult circumstances, including the pandemic and growing financial pressures caused by years of austerity.
He said the council was now in a stronger position, in significant part because of her leadership.
Owen expressed her pride in the council’s achievements during her time in Newport and said she considered serving the authority a privilege.
She also thanked council employees, senior leaders and elected members for their support, adding that the collective work to improve residents’ lives and make Newport the best it could be would continue after her departure.
She began working in local government in Merthyr Tydfil and joined Newport City Council in 2015 as head of regeneration, investment and housing.
In 2016, she became strategic director for place, before being appointed chief executive in 2020.
At the age of 28, she had secured her first head of service position at Blaenau Gwent.
Her departure will conclude a significant period for Newport City Council.
A recruitment process to appoint the next chief executive is expected to begin in the coming months.