The State Services Commissioner, Michael Wintringham, today announced the appointment of four new senior staff in the State Services Commission.

Ms Iona Holsted, Mr Malcolm Inglis and Mr David Smyth have been appointed as three new Deputy Commissioners. In addition, Mr Rex Collett has been appointed as Branch Manager of the Chief Executives Branch.

Mr Wintringham said the appointment of the new senior staff is a significant step forward in the current restructuring of the State Services Commission.

“There was considerable interest in these roles within the public service and we were very pleased with the calibre of applicants received.

“The three new Deputy Commissioners will join with the current deputy, Mr Tony Hartevelt, in delivering high quality advice on the design, strategy, capability and performance of the public service. They will lead the performance management of chief executives, and advise on the capability of departments” Mr Wintringham said.

Mr Wintringham said that the four deputy commissioners bring an important breadth of experience and skill to their roles.

“The four deputy commissioners have between them experience in both State and private sectors; governance, management at chief executive level and industrial relations; and combine knowledge of the business of the State Services Commission with fresh views from the governing boards and management of service delivery organisations” he said.

Ms Holsted is currently Acting Branch Manager of Government Management Branch. She joined the State Services Commission in 1995, working first in the Education Sector Group and then latterly in the Government Management Branch, as a senior advisor, team leader, and acting branch manager.

Mr Inglis comes from a consultancy background, where he has advised on change and organisational development in both the private and public sectors. He is a former Principal Advisor, Health, within CCMAU and served two terms as a Director of Auckland Healthcare. Currently he is active within tertiary education and is the Crown appointed observer to two polytechnic councils.

Mr Smyth is currently the Chief Executive of the Ministry of Housing; he has held this position for the past four years. In the last decade be has held a number of senior roles within the public service, including Deputy Secretary in the Ministry of Justice, Group Manager in the Ministry of Health, Director of the Health Reforms in DPMC, and Deputy Secretary and Branch Manager in the Treasury.

Mr Wintringham said he would be appointing an acting Chief Executive for the Ministry of Housing before Christmas.

Mr Collett has been appointed as the Manager of the Chief Executives Branch, a position he has held in an acting capacity for the last 21 months. He has been with the State Services Commission since 1995 when be became manager of the then Strategic Human Resource Development Branch. Since that time Mr Collett has been the Branch Manager of Corporate Services, and the Acting Branch Manager of the Chief Executives Branch. Before joining the Commission, Mr Collett worked in both the private and public sectors, including a period with local government.

Ends

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