THE recruitment process for an interim chief executive is due to begin next month, the Chief Minister has confirmed.
Deputy Kristina Moore said they were considering ‘how to construct the [government chief executive] role to provide opportunities to candidates who live in Jersey’ – adding that ‘there is a benefit to understanding our unique Island’.
In a letter responding to the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel, Deputy Moore said in April that the government would ‘advertise on Island for suitably qualified local candidates and invite agencies to submit candidates’, following the departure of chief executive Suzanne Wylie, which has sparked a fall-out within government.
The letter – which is dated 6 April but was published online this week – stated that candidates would be shortlisted to a maximum of three people, with interviews taking place in May.
Handover meetings are then expected to take place in June and July, when the interim chief executive will take up post.
The Chief Minister said it was ‘envisioned that the interim arrangements will be required for nine to 12 months’, adding that ‘there will be communications to Islanders about the recruitment process, candidate requirements and how to apply when these details are finalised’.
Permanent recruitment would begin towards the end of May, said Deputy Moore, although she admitted that this might take longer if the review of the government chief executive role concludes that legislative changes are needed.
The Chief Minister set out the recruitment timeline in a written response to a letter sent to her at the end of March by the chair of the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel, Deputy Sam Mézec, requesting information concerning the resignation of Mrs Wylie.
Mrs Wylie has not commented publicly on her departure. However, in her resignation letter – released following requests by the JEP and Bailiwick Express – Mrs Wylie wrote: ‘There is much political debate on the role of the chief executive and my departure will also open the opportunity to assess if it should be changed and to what degree. I appreciate that the search will need to start now for my replacement, and I assure you that I will do all I can to support a new CEO coming into post.’
In his written reply, Deputy Mézec thanked Deputy Moore for the recruitment timetable, which he said the panel ‘deems to be very useful’.
However, he requested additional information about concerns regarding alleged unacceptable behaviour during her term in office.
