OIC to appoint Interim Chief Executive

The Council is to appoint an Interim Chief Executive.

OIC’s Chief Executive, Alistair Buchan, is not at work at present as he recovers from recent illness.

“We have been considering how best to cover Alistair’s absence in the meantime,” said OIC Convener Harvey Johnston.

“At this week’s meeting of the Full Council, we agreed to appoint John Mundell as Interim Chief Executive from the end of June.”

Mr Mundell’s career in local government began in 1974 and he was Chief Executive of Inverclyde Council for more than 10 years until September 2016.

He spent time in Orkney two years ago helping staff and Elected Members prepare for a Best Value Audit of the Council. He also provided consultancy support to the Council in 2018.

Councillor Johnston said: “John’s experience and knowledge of Orkney make him an ideal candidate to join us as on an interim basis.

“Alistair endorses this arrangement. Like us he sees it as important that the Senior Management Team is at full strength at a busy and important time for the Council and that having an Interim Chief Executive in place will help ensure we make progress with our programme and priorities.”

Mr Mundell is currently working on a consultancy assignment for Moray Council. He is expected to join OIC on an interim basis in late June, once his commitments there are complete.

In addition, Wilfred Weir, the Council’s Executive Director of Education, Leisure and Housing, has indicated his intention to retire in the Autumn.

“All of us wish him all the best for his retirement and for the future,” added Councillor Johnston.

Mr Weir began his teaching career in 1982 as a teacher of English at Robert Gordon’s College in Aberdeen. After a variety of promoted posts in schools in Grampian Region, he served as an Education Manager in Aberdeenshire. In 2007 he became Head of Education in Aberdeenshire with responsibility for 60 Schools, the education budget, and educational resources and policy. He was appointed to his current post with OIC in 2014.

“When I leave it will be after exactly five years in post, the very best five years of my 37-year career,” Mr Weir said.

“It has been an honour and a privilege to serve the public in Orkney with such a wide portfolio. One of my key aims has been to ensure that Orkney was represented on the national stage in relation to education and that we influenced national policy direction in a range of key areas.”

Arrangements to find a successor will be confirmed over the coming months.