Four CEOs in four years

By Evelyn Leckie – 

CITY of Whittlesea acting chief executive Kevin Spiller has announced he will depart council at the end of February, making him the fourth chief executive to exit the leadership position in four years.

Mr Spiller said his decision to leave council was related to personal and other business commitments from March.

The acting chief executive took over Simon Overland’s role in late November when Mr Overland took sudden and indefinite leave citing concerns for his health and safety.

Mr Overland specified in November that interactions between councillors, and interactions between his executive leadership team and councillors were not keeping with requirements to ensure a safe and healthy workplace.

Just over 20 days later, council sacked Mr Overland and Mr Spiller was announced to remain in the acting role.

The State Government also appointed monitor Yehudi Blacher to oversee council operations on the same day.

Mr Overland was about to testify for the Lawyer X Royal Commission when he was sacked.
The commission is currently investigating Victoria Police’s use of a defence lawyer Nicola Gobbo as an informant while Mr Overland was the Victoria Police Chief Commissioner.
Now, Mr Spiller will finish his role on February 28.

City of Whittlesea Mayor Emilia Sterjova said council would like to thank Mr Spiller for accepting the acting chief executive role at short notice and for guiding the organisation over the past three months.

Previous mayor Lawrie Cox said there needed to be stable administration going forward.
“There needs to be a change of [councillor] behaviours for the best interests of the community – we need stable administration,” Cr Cox said.

“Turning over the fourth CEO in four years is not good enough.”