Queenstown Lakes District Council (QLDC) will today (Thursday January 22) consider the appointment of an interim chief executive to replace Mike Theelen in a closed-door meeting.

Mike, who has been in the role for ten years, announced in August last year he would leave the organisation this February.

Councillors will consider the chief executive relationship and recruitment subcommittee’s recommendation on his interim replacement, but unlike most council meetings it won’t be open to the public.

“This meeting will involve consideration of confidential and private information related to employment matters,” a QLDC report on the meeting said.

“While there is significant public interest in the recruitment of an interim chief executive, the interest identified above outweighs the public interest in this case.”

The recruitment process was delegated to a committee, but the decision to appoint a new chief executive will be reserved for the full council.

The previous council’s steps to begin a recruitment process for a new chief executive - a few months before a local body election - sparked controversy when councillor Niki Gladding criticised then mayor Glyn Lewers for selecting a recruitment agency without the input of elected representatives.

Read more: Recruitment row sparks clash among QLDC councillor, mayor, and candidate

Niki said the process did not follow best practice as defined by the office of the auditor general and risked “a real perception of mistrust”.

Mayoral candidate John Glover - who is now mayor, also weighed in, saying he was alarmed recruiters were being considered “behind closed doors”, and urging council to halt the process.

At the first full meeting of the new council in November, QLDC staff told councillors the recruitment process needed to be undertaken urgently, and that an interim chief executive would have to be appointed to cover time between Mike’s departure and the appointment of his replacement.

Councillor Gavin Bartlett said he was concerned councillors and staff had “spent six weeks spinning our wheels” on an important issue, despite there having been a recruitment consultant appointed.

He expressed concern that discussions on the recruitment had taken place “in small groups behind closed doors” and said he hoped the council could move forward “with more openness and transparency”.

Read more: Frustration, ‘machinations’ - council under pressure to recruit new CE

Mike Theelen said he intends to spend more time with his family.

PHOTO: Supplied