MDC appoints new Chief Executive

Masterton District Council has appointed Kym Fell as their new Chief Executive, starting on 25 September 2023.

Mr Fell is currently the Chief Customer and Community Officer at Wellington City Council where is he is responsible for 1061 staff, managing Parks, Sports and Recreation, City Housing, City Parking, Connected Communities, Libraries and Community Spaces and the Creative Capital.

He also holds the responsibility of Deputy Chief Security Officer and Local Controller for Civil Defence Emergency Management and led the council response to the recent parliamentary protests.

Prior to this, Mr Fell had six years as Chief Executive of the Whanganui District Council where he played a pivotal role in transforming Whanganui into a vibrant and thriving city through the enablement of economic, social, cultural, and environmental initiatives, several of which were award-winning projects.

As well he led two civil defence emergency declarations relating to major weather events in the Whanganui district.

Born in Masterton, Mr Fell has now returned to Wairarapa after recently completing a two-year house build on rural land just outside of Greytown. He is married to Karen, who works in the wine industry, and has two adult daughters, Aspen and Lucia.

Masterton Mayor Gary Caffell said the appointment of Mr Fell followed an exhaustive recruitment process which attracted 50 applicants, many of them leaders in their fields.

“We had an absolutely outstanding response and to finally appoint someone of Kym’s experience and expertise is huge, not only for councillors and staff but for the community in general. He has a record of making a difference and getting things done, and that’s what we wanted. ”

Mayor Caffell said council had a busy time ahead with work about to start on their 2023-34 Long Term Plan which would see a number of major projects come under the spotlight.

“There’s a lot of exciting stuff on the horizon and I am confident our new chief executive will be up to every challenge that provides.”

Mayor Caffell also paid tribute to current Chief Executive David Hopman, who recently resigned after close to two years in the position, and who has been with the Masterton council for 15 years.

“David came into the CE role at a very challenging time, both internally and externally, and did a brilliant job in getting things back to where they needed to be. He will be a very hard act to follow.”

Mr Hopman leaves the council on Friday and taking the post of Interim Chief Executive will be the present Manager of Strategy and Governance, Karen Yates, whose appointment to that position will be confirmed at a full meeting of council tomorrow.