Whanganui & Partners part way through recruitment process for new general manager

Whanganui & Partners board chairman Myles Fothergill says some high calibre applicants are interested in the general manager role.

Whanganui & Partners is finalising a shortlist of applicants for its general manager role.

Applications for the position with the economic development agency closed on October 1. Previous manager Philippa Ivory departed suddenly in August after just seven months in the job.

Board chairman Myles Fothergill said the recruitment process was being managed through an external agency.

"We're in the process of going through the applications and finalising the shortlist," Fothergill said.

"The number of applications was in the high 30s so there was a lot of interest and the calibre of applicants was pretty high again. I'm confident that we will find someone out of that."

Fothergill said once an appointment was made, a starting date would depend on the individual's circumstances but it was likely they would begin work in early 2019.

Whanganui District Council's infrastructure general manager Mark Hughes is acting general manager until a permanent appointment is made. Hughes also acted in the role from November 2017 until Ivory's arrival in January after previous general manager Adrian Dixon resigned last year.

The organisation has appointed Hannah Kelly as strategic lead for education and youth, filling a vacancy created by Heather Cox's recent departure.