New Auckland CEO

Auckland appoints new council boss on $630k salary

8th Nov 13, 12:30pm by David Hargreaves

Auckland Council's new chief executive is Stephen Town, who has been appointed for a five-year term on a $630,000 a-year salary.

Town, currently Regional Director of the NZ Transport Agency for Auckland and Northland and a former Tauranga City Council CEO, starts on January 15.

His appointment follows an international search.

He replaces Doug McKay who in the last financial year received a salary of nearly $800,000.

Auckland's Mayor Len Brown said Town was "quite simply the most qualified person to lead the organisation through this next challenging phase".

"Auckland needs the very best to respond to the huge challenges we face in transport, housing affordability and financial management, and in Stephen we’ve got it. He is highly experienced, absolutely focused on the task ahead and crystal clear on the challenges and opportunities for Auckland."

Brown said McKay had done an "outstanding job" leading the council group through the first three years.

"Doug oversaw one of the most challenging organisational transformations in New Zealand’s history."

Town said it was a "huge privilege" to be appointed.

"This next phase in Auckland’s transformation will require a relentless focus on delivery, service improvement and prudent financial management. We have a genuine opportunity to make Auckland the world’s most liveable city and I am delighted to be part of that project."

His appointment as CEO followed a recruitment process led by a CEO Review Committee chaired by the Mayor. The appointment was made by the full Governing Body of Auckland Council.

Town's $630,000, salary will be fixed for two years. His contract will be for a five-year term.

McKay had indicated in December 2012 that he would not seek reappointment when his term expired on 31 December 2013. His initial appointment was for 18 months and he extended it to 31 December 2013 at the request of the council.

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11 Comments

by Kumbel | 8th Nov 13, 1:38pm 1383871087

There's a chocolate fish for ayone who notices Auckland Council actually do something that improves the lives of Aucland residents. When will the public sector learn that re-organising structures, replacing managers, developing plans, bedding in new frameworks, establishing committees, fact-finding, paying living wages, issuing world-class press releases are no subsitute for delivering outcomes that are valued by the commuinity.

by Snodgrass Thro… | 8th Nov 13, 2:47pm 1383875270

For Heaven's sake Kumbel. Don't you know that global chocolate fish production peaked in 2006 and by dishing them out willy nilly like this you are depriving starving children in Mexico their share. Have you no compassion?

by Chairman Moa | 8th Nov 13, 2:55pm 1383875734

And you still get the run around. Sold our Auckland house in April last year, Council continued to debit the rates until October. Filed my rates refund and only got the refund few weeks ago.

by Kumbel | 8th Nov 13, 3:46pm 1383878794

Choc fish are probably made from non-nutritive alginates. If you were starving before eating one, you will still be starving after eating one. So no harm done I guess but I remain suitably chastened. Happy Friday.

by Snodgrass Thro… | 8th Nov 13, 5:37pm 1383885423

I hear you. But there's peak choccy fish deniers out there who say they will just turn to pineapple lumps. But they only have half the EREE (energy returned on energy eaten..) as the fish.

by Gummy Bear Hero | 8th Nov 13, 5:44pm 1383885875

... well of course , there are some of us who tried in vain to warn you deniers of the peak in chocolate fish atoms .. ... Even Greenpeace are in total denial over this pressing issue ...

The planet simply cannot sustain your current consumption levels ...

... I suggest you don your tin hats , head into your caves , and by the light of a lone candle , eat a little Gummy Bear !

by MortgageBelt | 8th Nov 13, 5:57pm 1383886671

Will the new CE stipulate the mayor gets all parties to sign hush agreements before entering new relationships?

by Chairman Moa | 8th Nov 13, 6:51pm 1383889882

1st approved expenditure for the new CEO will be refurbishing the Ngati Whatua room to make it a bit more livable..

by Alter Ego | 9th Nov 13, 12:46pm 1383954392

I think we should put to bed the antics of the current mayor.

And go to Town on the new encumbent.

Both are a source of double dipping and being over exposed.

You rate payers must all be rolling about laughing, working yer fingers to the bone to pay for their largesse and pension payments.

I would not take it lying down, bend over and take it like a man.

by MortgageBelt | 9th Nov 13, 5:13pm 1383970391

Now that the NZ Herald, TV3, TV1 etc have spent 3 weeks running around after the "right-wing conspiracy" chasing Luigi etc, maybe they will get back to their real job and start asking Len Brown some difficult questions.

Just as they would be asking direct persistent questions of the Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers, MPs and other elected reps who have been found to be in serious breach of professional duties.

How is it that the Mayor of the largest city in NZ can carry on in the job without standing down while a serious enquiry into unethical behaviour is under way?

Is the media receiving legal threats from the Auckland Council Mayors office public relations dept? Do we really have a free press any more?

by Kate | 9th Nov 13, 8:05pm 1383980725

Anyone have any idea what a Regional Director of the NZ Transport Agency for Auckland and Northland makes as an annual salary?

In 2012 his boss at NZTA wasn't on $630K -

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/political/117898/housing-ceo-got-$81,000-payout-when-job-ended

And therefore, I guess we can assume this direct report was on much, much less.

So why pay him more than what was needed to entice him into the AKL CEO job?