Mayor becomes CEO

Goodness – this is unusual. The Mayor of Hamilton has become the CEO.

Nothing wrong with this per se, so long as he recused himself from any involvement in the appointment process.

We had a similiar situation at InternetNZ a few years ago when the incumbent President sucessfully applied for the senior staff position. We were extremely careful that they were quarantined from all involvement in the process, even excluding input into the job description. In one sense it is a huge hassle when it happens because it adds a degree of complexity and sensitivity to the employment process, but on the other hand, excluding such as application may mean you don’t get the bets person for the job.

What is important is you don’t do it the way it was done at Maori TV a few years ago when the Chair of the Selection Panel declined all the applicants, and then was appointed himself.

Air NZ is another example of someone going from governance to management, as Ralph Norris did.