Announcement of Interim Chief Executive for Auckland Council

The Interim Chief Executive of the new Auckland Council is to be Doug McKay, the Auckland Transition Agency (ATA) announced today (March 25).

Mr McKay, 54, has an extensive background in leading large organisations in both New Zealand and Australia. This includes senior roles with Carter Holt Harvey, Lion Nathan and Goodman Fielder. Most recently he served as Chief Executive Officer at Sealord and CEO and Executive Chairman of Independent Liquor.

He will take up the role on August 1, 2010 for a fixed term to 29 June, 2012.

He sees the role at the new Auckland Council as “hugely challenging, exciting and unique”, and said: “The work of councils touch on the lives of people in some way every day.”

Mr McKay describes himself as “an Aucklander, through and through.”

He said: “I grew up in Waitakere, worked in Manukau and live in Auckland City. I went to university and teachers’ training college in Auckland, and built my career here. We also chose to raise our family here. Auckland is a fantastic city with huge potential - that’s what attracted me to the job.”

ATA Executive Chairman Mark Ford said Mr McKay was an outstanding candidate for the role. “His background in customer service, driving results-focused organisations, managing performance and leading staff through periods of change will be invaluable as the new council begins and develops,” Mr Ford said.

In the months before taking up his new role, Mr McKay will work closely with the ATA as it develops the structure and resources needed for the new council.

Mr McKay said: “This is a large project which has some very challenging timelines but I am confident that these will be met. We want this City to be an even better place to live, work, and play and I’m looking forward to working with council staff and elected members in delivering great results for the people of Auckland.”

ENDS

© Scoop Media