21 March 2014

Christchurch City Council announces new executive appointments

Christchurch City Council has announced four new appointments to the Council's Executive Leadership Team.

The Council's Acting Chief Executive Jane Parfitt says that today's announcement means that all seven members of the executive team have now been appointed. Three of the team: Mike Theelen (Chief Planning Officer), Peter Gudsell (Chief Financial Officer) and Peter Sparrow (Director Building Control and City Rebuild), are already working at the Council in their new roles.

"The new structure which defines Council operations as rebuild and recovery or day-to-day operations comes into effect on 1 April. Some of those appointed do not start until June, however I intend to put transitional arrangements in place until they come on board so that we keep the change momentum going.

"We received a large number of applications for all the roles which were advertised late last year. Many of those applying indicated they wanted to play a role in the rebuild and recovery of the city," Jane Parfitt says.

The appointments announced today are as follows:

Dr Brendan Anstiss: Director Corporate Services. Brendan is currently General Manager Recovery Monitoring with CERA, where for the last eight months he has been responsible for recovery monitoring, evaluation and reporting, and the programme management office. Prior to this Brendan had an extensive career at the Department of Corrections including as National Commissioner (in charge of the country's prisons). During his time at Corrections Brendan led a number of large change projects, including the successful work to reduce the rates of reoffending, the implementation of smoke-free prisons, and he undertook an organisation-wide expenditure review. He has worked closely with Ministers and has strong relationships with Central Government. Brendan will start his new role on 22 April.

Mary Richardson: Director Office of the Chief Executive. Mary was the highly respected Unit Manager Policy and Research for the Council from 1998 to 2005. She is currently Executive Director/CEO of the Methodist Mission - a role she has held since 2010. Mary’s previous roles included Director of Policy for the Department of Internal Affairs. Mary will start work at the Council in June.

David Adamson: Director Council Facilities and Infrastructure Rebuild. David has been the Chief Executive of the Southland District Council since 2004. He originally joined the Southland District Council 19 years ago as District Engineer. He was then appointed as the Group Manager for Services and Assets before becoming Chief Executive. As one of the local government sector's most respected and experienced professional engineers, his career has included engineering positions at the Rotorua District Council, the Taupo County Council and the New Plymouth City Council.

Jane Parfitt: Chief Operating Officer. Jane has been Acting Chief Executive at the Council since June last year. Prior to that she was the Council's General Manager City Environment. Her previous roles include Chief Executive Officer for the Waimakariri District Council (2000 to 2003) and Chief Executive Officer Healthlink South (1997 to 2000). She will transition to the new role of Chief Operating Officer pending the appointment of the Council's Chief Executive.

ENDS

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