18 March 2019

Jennie Mitchell, SWDC’s Group Manager for Corporate Support, will take up the role of Acting Chief Executive until a permanent operational leader joins the Council. This decision was made by Council at a special meeting held this afternoon.

Ms Napier says, “interviews for the new Chief Executive are progressing well, and a new Chief Executive is expected to be appointed in the next few weeks. In the meantime, we are grateful to Ms Mitchell for taking on the Council’s operational leadership role.

“I am confident that the Council will be in good hands with Ms Mitchell until such a time as the permanent Chief Executive can take up the reins,” says Ms Napier.

Ms Mitchell has 20 years’ experience in senior finance roles, including two years at Council and four years before that at Wairarapa District Health Board. She has held finance roles in various sectors including radio, telecommunications, energy, aged care, not-for-profit, including three and a half years in London.

Ms Mitchell is a qualified Chartered Accountant; has tutored accounting and business studies at Manawatu Polytech; and worked for two accounting firms in Palmerston North that are now part of KPMG and PWC.

This acting appointment follows the resignation of Chief Executive of five years, Paul Crimp, who leaves at the end of March.

Ms Mitchell will take over Chief Executive responsibilities from 1 April until further notice.

ENDS

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