<p>Judith Armitt has been appointed chief executive of the Department for Communities and Local Government’s (DCLG) Thames Gateway directorate, responsible for implementing the region’s strategic framework, incorporating its proposed economic development strategy. Chief executive of Medway council in Kent since 1997, Armitt has strong experience of the area, having helped establish Medway Renaissance, the local authority’s regeneration unit, and overseeing a number of large-scale projects. She will take-up the DCLG post later this year.</p>