8 February 2011

Mayor Neil Volzke announces the following:

“Mr Michael Freeman, the Chief Executive Officer, has resigned his position. His resignation is effective from 8 February 2011”

“Michael has been the CEO for six and a half years now and his skills, expertise and knowledge will be sorely missed. During his time he has guided us through some difficult issues and challenged us to think hard before making the decisions councillors have to make. In particular, as a strategist, he was excellent”

“Michael was never short of idea’s and as you would expect from a chess grandmaster, he had a really sharp analytical way of evaluating everything”

“ Michael joined the Stratford Council in 2002 as the Corporate Services manager and was promoted to the role of Chief Executive following the untimely death of Mr Wayne Kimber in 2004”

“ Michael has a quite a bit of leave owing to him and intends to take a well earned break over the next couple of months, before embarking on a new venture”

“ Many other local organisations have benefitted from Michaels skills as well. Recent examples include the Stratford Health Trust where he has been heavily involved with the development of the new building, the Percy Thomson Trust and the I-Taranaki Trust, to name but a few”

“Current Planning and Regulatory Manager Mr Mike Avery, has been appointed to the position of Acting Chief Executive until such time a permanent appointment is made”

“ The recruitment process to find a new Chief Executive will commence immediately. Council will engage the professional services of a HR company to assist with the appointment to this pivotal position in the council organisation. It is expected to take three to four months before his replacement takes up the position”

ENDS

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