24 December 2012
Kevin Lavery confirmed as new Council CEO
Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown has confirmed the appointment of Kevin Lavery as the new Chief Executive of Wellington
City Council.
Dr Lavery, currently the Chief Executive of Cornwall Council in southwest England, will take up his new role in March.
Mayor Wade-Brown says she and her colleagues are looking forward to working with Dr Lavery. “He will bring strong
leadership and fresh thinking to the Council at a time when the city and region faces big challenges.”
She has personally checked the credentials of Dr Lavery by talking to politicians from across the political spectrum
with whom he has worked at the Cornwall Council and, prior to that, in Newcastle. They include the Cornwall Council
Leader Jim Currie, the former Leader, Alec Robertson, and North Durham Labour MP and former Newcastle Councillor Kevan
Jones.
“Kevin’s career thus far shows he can work with people across the political spectrum and that his focus is on providing
affordable and quality services in challenging local government environments. His strategic thinking, telecommunications
background and urban regeneration experience will be welcome.
“The main role of any local authority CEO is to implement the decisions of the elected Mayor and Councillors and Kevin
will continue to do that in Wellington.”
Mayor Wade-Brown says Dr Lavery interviewed well “and impressed a clear majority of my colleagues”.
She adds that Dr Lavery found the rugged coastline of Wellington attractive – “and with a Doctorate in Urban and
Regional Studies he is also relishing the challenges of running a council in a cosmopolitan capital city”.
Dr Lavery has been appointed for five years with an annual salary package of $400,000.
ENDS