Colac Otway restarts its hunt for a CEO

THE Colac Otway Shire has still not found a new chief executive officer, and has voted to entirely restart the recruitment process.

The shire aims to re-advertise the position before the end of this month, engaging a new recruitment firm and also a probity monitor who is responsible for providing advice and guidance.

At last month’s meeting, councillors voted to form a Special Advisory Committee to support the decision-making process.

Colac Otway Shire has been without a permanent CEO since Sue Wilkinson resigned in August.

The unsuccessful recruitment process, run by Davidson – Executive and Boards, received about 35 applications for the job, with the shire giving final interviews to three candidates but ultimately deciding on none of them.

The Special Advisory Committee will include a council-appointed probity monitor, Philip Shanahan.

Colac Otway mayor Joe McCracken said Mr Shanahan had 30 years’ experience as a CEO and had worked with more than 20 Victorian councils on setting key performance indicators for CEOs, as well as providing advice regarding other general employment matters relating to the appointment of a CEO.

“I, as the mayor, will chair the committee, all councillors will be members and council’s Manager of People, Performance and Culture will also attend meetings with Mr Shanahan.

“McArthur Management Services come well recommended to us as a recruitment firm with 48 years of experience and a specialist division for government.

“The establishment of a Special Advisory Committee will strengthen our commitment to openness and transparency and has been implemented by other Councils who have undergone the process of recruiting a CEO.

“It’s now seen around the industry as best practice and it shows good governance for us to adopt the same approach.

“Councillors will continue to make the final decision on the appointment of a CEO, however Mr Shanahan’s expertise throughout the decision-making process will be highly valued.”