Whakatāne District Council’s chief executive, Steven Perdia, has unveiled a streamlined executive structure, 10 weeks after coming into the role.

“During my time as a general manager, I thought the executive structure was relatively large for a council of our size,” Mr Perdia said. “This new structure is smaller and focused on tighter management of our priorities and the delivery of core services.”

The new structure reduces the number of general managers, whose salaries average around $230,000 a year, from six to five, while retaining the kaihautū - director strategic Māori partnerships position.

“This change better aligns work streams and ensures each executive is focused on delivering the best results for our community and within our means,” Mr Perdia said.

The new structure has been agreed with the support and agreement of the current executive team. Briefing sessions were held with council staff and a period of feedback asked for their opinions on the opportunities and challenges they could foresee in the new structure.

“I invited people to give me their thoughts online, by email or sit down for a chat and I was stoked at the number of staff who made the time to do all of those things,” Mr Perdia said.

The previous executive team, under chief executive Steph O’Sullivan, was made up of chief financial officer Gary Connolly, who has since left, and general managers of infrastructure (Bevan Gray), strategy and transformation (Mr Perdia), development and environmental services (David Bewley), people and engagement (Emlyn Hatch) and community experience (Georgina Fletcher, who has now left) and kaihautū - director strategic Māori partnerships (Paul Warbrick, who has now left).

Three direct appointments have been made, effective immediately:

•              General manager finance and commercial services – Bevan Gray

•              General manager planning, regulatory and infrastructure – David Bewley

•              General manager people and partnerships – Emlyn Hatch

Recruitment begins this week for three vacancies:

•              Kaihautū -  director strategic Māori partnerships (interim: Michelle Hingston)

•              General manager strategy and growth (interim: Leny Woolsey)

•              General manager community experience (interim: Alexandra Pickles)

The council expects to fill these roles by January 2025.