City College Norwich has appointed its chief operating officer Jen Eves as interim CEO for the coming academic year. Eves, who has been COO at the college since November 2024, is a former senior police officer and local government director. Her appointment as interim boss from September 1 will follow the departure of current CEO Jerry White, who announced his decision to step down in June. White is moving to a role supporting the Association of Colleges with SEND reform. The college said Eves will hold the interim CEO role for one academic year and during this time the board will make arrangements for the permanent position. Details of Eves’ COO replacement appointment will come “in due course”. The college said the new interim CEO was appointed following a “robust” recruitment and selection process that recognised her work on driving strategic ambitions and developing key support services. City College Norwich’s chair Marcus Bailey said: “Jen has already demonstrated exceptional leadership during her time at the college and has made a significant contribution as COO. “We are delighted that she has accepted this appointment and are confident that her expertise, strategic vision and commitment to our values will help guide City College Norwich through the coming year and beyond.” Eves will take the reins of the three-campus college group that taught about 9,000 students in 2024-25 and retained its ‘good’ overall Ofsted grade in 2024. The new interim CEO previously worked at the Suffolk Constabulary police force, with her social media profile suggesting that she spent one year as a chief superintendent before moving to West Suffolk Council in 2018. At the council, she served as assistant director and then director of HR, legal and democratic services, before moving to City College Norwich in 2024. White’s departure from the college was announced two months ago. In the 2024-25 academic year he was paid a basic salary of £168,000, pension contributions of £48,000, and did not receive any bonus or benefits in kind. He joined the college from Norfolk County Council’s adult education service in 2022, replacing previous CEO Corrienne Peasgood.