Aberdeen City Council chief executive set to stand down
13/05/08
Douglas Paterson, Chief Executive of Aberdeen City Council, today [Tues, May 13] indicated his wish to take retirement earlier than planned.
Speaking this morning Mr Paterson said: "This seems to me to be the right thing to do. After 12 years at the helm of Scotland's third city we are at a moment in time which just seems right for me to hand over the reins and allow someone to bring a fresh impetus to one of the best jobs in Scotland and drive the Council forward.
"Councils are multi-faceted, multi-million pound complex businesses and I am delighted to have had the honour of leading a council like Aberdeen at the most senior officer level for over a decade.
"I am pleased with what has been achieved by the city and the council over the years and pleased with the progress my new management team are making - with the support I have had from all the councils and administrations I have served under.
"I had planned to retire in just over a year’s time, however the fact that we are due to review progress later this year and we will also have the findings of the Accounts Commission Hearing it would be best for the City Council and the new Chief Executive for him or her to be part of that process now.
"I feel, therefore, that we are at a moment in time where my standing aside slightly earlier than I had always planned allows the new incumbent a clear, uninterrupted run at the job and allows him or her, with the support of the new management team, the chance to inject a fresh impetus and build on what has been achieved to date.
“I wish to emphasise that my decision to request early retirement is solely in order to benefit the Council and the people of Aberdeen.
"As I say I have enjoyed my time as Chief Executive. As in any job, it has had its moments but the highs far outweigh the lows.
City Council leader Councillor Kate Dean said: "As Leader of the Administration I will be recommending to the Council that we approve our Chief Executive's request for early retirement although I do this with considerable regret.
"Having spoken to Douglas personally this morning I fully understand the reasons behind his thinking.
"It is a mark of the man's integrity that he puts the City of Aberdeen and the Council ahead of himself by retiring slightly earlier than he had planned.
"The Council is in a position where there is considerable momentum for change but it will take several years more for Aberdeen to achieve the high levels of performance that both the political and officer leaders of the Council aspire to.
"By retiring early Douglas provides an opportunity for a new Chief Executive to build on the change and momentum that Douglas has himself created. In other words we won't be changing our most senior management as we continue through the improvement process. For this reason I accept his decision to go. He is a man of honour who has today taken a principled decision that allows the Council to move forward in a way that puts his personal interest last and public interest first."
If you have any queries regarding this, or any other news story, please contact Aberdeen City Council on: 01224 522000.
