New acting chief for Child, Youth and Family

1.00pm

Retired Land Information chief executive Russ Ballard has been named acting chief executive of the Department of Child, Youth and Family Services.

CYF has been without a chief executive since the resignation of Jackie Pivac last month.

Ms Pivac resigned, saying she believed there were three to five year of intensive change ahead of the department, and it was right to let someone else lead the department.

Brenda Pilott, CYF's general manager policy, has been acting as chief executive since Ms Pivac's resignation.

Announcing Dr Ballard's appointment today, State Services Commissioner, Michael Wintringham said he appreciated Ms Pilott stepping in and managing the organisation in difficult circumstances.

"Having reflected on the challenges facing CYF, and with the decision of Ms Pilott to leave the organisation (to join the Public Service Association), I have decided to appoint a very experienced former chief executive to provide the necessary leadership to the department until the new chief executive takes up the role," Mr Wintringham said in a statement.

Dr Ballard retired as the chief executive of Land Information New Zealand in June. He had been a public service chief executive for more than 15 years, and had headed the Ministry of Forestry, the Department of Education and the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.

Dr Ballard will take up the acting position from January 5.

Mr Wintringham said the CYF job would be advertised tomorrow. He said chief executive level recruitment normally took at least four to six months.

- NZPA