The Central Okanagan Regional District board has appointed Paul Macklem as interim chief administrative officer for the regional district.
Macklem is a long-time finance department director for the City of Kelowna who is currently general manager of corporate services.
Macklem will begin his one-year term with CORD starting April 16.
The decision comes in advance of the planned retirement of current chief administrative officer Harold Reay at the end of April.
“Mr. Macklem has more than 25 years of local government experience,” said CORD board chairman Robert Hobson.
“The combination of Mr. Macklem’s background in finance, senior management, strategic planning and his familiarity with the regional district makes him the ideal candidate for this transitional role.”
With Reay retiring after more than 30 years of service for the regional district, Hobson said the board felt it was timely to take stock of the regional district operation and the services provided across the region.
This interim appointment will help in the recruitment for a permanent chief administrative officer who will guide the organization in the future, Hobson said.
Macklem will work closely with the RDCO board to determine how best to meet the future needs of the Central Okanagan, reporting directly to Hobson.
The Regional District of Central Okanagan was created 45 years ago by the provincial government and is one of 29 regional districts in the province.
It provides region-wide services such as 911, dog control and regional parks in the electoral areas and member municipalities of Lake Country, Kelowna, Peachland and West Kelowna.
It also provides a local government to the residents of the unincorporated Central Okanagan East and Central Okanagan West Electoral Areas.
