Chief Executive Appointment Process

Mayor Celia Wade-Brown has confirmed that she and Councillors have chosen a new candidate for the position of Chief Executive at Wellington City Council.

The decision was reached at last evening's Council meeting. "All elected members expressed their gratitude and appreciation for the work that Garry Poole has overseen in this city over the last fifteen years."

Mayor Wade-Brown says she will work closely with the Council's Executive Leadership Team and Mr Poole to ensure a smooth transition for staff, projects and the city.

She says she will share the preferred candidate's name with the organisation in the near future, once negotiations are complete.

In a statement to staff, Mr Poole said: "As you can appreciate, it is a decision that for me is a significant disappointment. I am enormously proud of Wellington and what we have done to help it build an international reputation as a remarkable place to live, work, visit and play."

Mr Poole adds in his message to staff: "I have great confidence that we will all ensure that the change will do nothing to disrupt the quality and consistency of the Council's work."

Neither the Mayor nor Mr Poole will make further comment on this issue.