MBIE boss David Smol to leave in June, search for new CEO underway

Friday 27th January 2017

David Smol, the chief executive of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), won't seek reappointment when his five-year term ends in June.

Smol was MBIE's first chief executive, having taken over the role in September 2012 after working as acting CEO for six months prior. State services commissioner Peter Hughes said Smol "will leave MBIE very well positioned for the future and I thank him for the significant contribution he has made to New Zealand and the public service." MBIE deferred comment to the State Services Commission.

"Mr Smol has made a very significant contribution to the public service during almost a decade as a public service chief executive, both in his role at MBIE and also in the former Ministry of Economic Development," Hughes said. "He led the establishment of MBIE, bringing four different agencies together to create one of New Zealand’s largest government departments. MBIE has responsibilities across a wide range functions and areas and provides thousands of New Zealanders and New Zealand businesses with the public services they need every week."

MBIE's CEO had the fourth highest pay-packet in the core public service in the year ended June 30, 2016 in a band of $620,000 to $629,999, behind the heads of the Ministry of Education, the Treasury, and the State Services Commission.

A recruitment process to find a new CEO is underway and the role will be advertised in the near future, Hughes said.

BusinessDesk.co.nz

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