Bay of Plenty Regional Council seeking new chief executive

Bay of Plenty Regional Council chief executive Mary-Anne Macleod is stepping down. Photo / File

The Bay of Plenty Regional Council is nearing the end of a recruitment process to find a new chief executive.

Council chairman Doug Leeder said chief executive Mary-Anne Macleod's contract came up for renewal in March and she "elected not to express an interest in renewing it".

The council had since been working through a confidential recruitment process with a consultant.

Leeder said Macleod had been with the organisation for 11 years, the last seven as chief executive.

She had not been in the top job long when the Rena wrecked on Astrolabe Reef, a major issue she had to deal with.

He said she had made an "excellent contribution" in her time with the council.

"In her tenure, the work that the regional council does has increased in terms of scope and the budget it has to administer."

Macleod was the organisation's first female chief executive when she took over the role in August 2011.

Tauranga City Council has also been going through a chief executive recruitment process after electing not to automatically roll over Garry Poole's contract when it came up for renewal in April.

Poole was one of the shortlisted candidates and Mayor Greg Brownless said this week the council had finished the process of interviewing the candidates.