By Chris Thomson | posted on January 11, 2019
WOODANILLING has appointed a new Shire CEO but not before considering an overture from a municipality outside the Great Southern to jointly appoint a boss.
On November 16 the Wheatbelt Shire of Wagin wrote to its southern neighbour Woodanilling seeking to hold talks about sharing a CEO.
But Woodanilling had already started recruiting after CEO Belinda Knight’s recent departure broke a 17-year partnership with Shire President Russel Thomson that had been the longest in Western Australia (‘Pulling up stumps’, 1 November).
On Friday, Mr Thomson confirmed that, barring an unforeseen circumstance, former Kojonup and current Derby-West Kimberley CEO Steve Gash would start work as Woodanilling’s new CEO in April.
“He’ll bring a good deal of experience,” Cr Thomson said.
“He wanted to come back to the Great Southern.”
Until Mr Gash starts at Woodanilling, relieving CEO Sean Fletcher will continue to act in the role.
At a Woodanilling council meeting on December 18, councillors unanimously agreed to thank Wagin for its offer and “hold broad-ranging discussions” with its northern neighbour about “the possibilities” of sharing a CEO some time in the future.
The Woodanilling position was advertised with a remuneration package of $126,956 to $198,210 a year.
