Council CEO to step down

Mayor Jenny Hill has paid tribute to Council chief executive officer Mike Chiodo, who announced his retirement today.

“Mike came out of retirement to join Townsville City Council from the Northern Territory, where he had finished up as the CEO of the Department of Local Government and Community Services,” Cr Hill said.

“He joined TCC in 2017 on a short-term contract to help fast-track stage one of the Haughton Pipeline Duplication Project and to assist with the transformation of our near-$400 million infrastructure portfolio.

“Since 2018, firstly as acting CEO and then as CEO, Mike led the city through one of the worst natural disasters in its history and played an integral role in Council’s transformation.

“Mike has been unstinting in his efforts to lead TCC in serving the community through some difficult times with the unprecedented monsoon and the rebuild effort, and now the unprecedented global pandemic.”

Cr Hill said Mr Chiodo had agreed to work part-time to support the region’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

“Mike has agreed to continue to serve the people of Townsville and the Council as Chair of Townsville Recovery Acceleration Projects as part of the continuing work of the North Queensland Regional COVID-19 Coordination Taskforce,” she said.

“On behalf of Council and the Townsville community, I would like to thank Mike for his leadership and commitment to our community.”

Council has appointed Eber Butron, currently the Director of Planning, Environment and Cultural Services, as Acting Chief Executive Officer effective from 15 June when Mr Chiodo officially steps down.