The current chief executive of Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC), Mike Theelen, has been reappointed, effective from February 2021.

The council’s top job was advertised following advice from the council’s chief executive performance review committee.

In July the committee - comprising mayor Jim Boult, deputy mayor Calum MacLeod, and councillor John MacDonald (audit, finance and risk committee chair) - recommended advertising the role of chief executive to provide stability and consistency for the period of COVID-19 recovery ahead.

The term of employment of a local government chief executive is defined by the Local Government Act 2002, and Mike’s end of term review was completed on July 9. 

The recruitment process was conducted on behalf of the council by a specialist executive recruitment agency, and elected members reappointed Mike at a public excluded session at the end of the October 29 council meeting.

“Not only was Mr Theelen the strongest candidate, his reappointment gives the organisation stability and continuity at a time when none of us can predict how the effects of COVID-19 will continue to impact our district and what that means for QLDC,” Jim said.

“Mr Theelen has created a strong, high performing management team and... I am confident that the operational management of council remains in exceptional hands for the next five years,” he said.

Mike was previously the Christchurch City Council's general manager of strategy and planning, and led the council's recovery team after the Canterbury earthquakes. He joined QLDC as CEO in February 2016. 

In September last year councillors approved a salary increase of over $8,000 for Mike, taking his annual pay packet to $356,619.00. The mayor said the salary reflected “the challenges” met by the CEO.

PHOTO: Supplied