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Finding a new CEO and Interim Chief to lead Jersey’s civil service in the wake of Charlie Parker’s departure has cost the island more than £160,000, it has emerged.
After news of his second job as Non-Executive Director at UK real estate firm New River emerged, Mr Parker agreed to step down in November, taking with him an exit payment of £500,000.
But figures obtained by Express show that the impact of the scandal has left a further dent of £161,970 in public finances.
Pictured: Mr Parker's first successor was interim CEO Paul Martin, who was appointed after a process that cost £95,000.
The recruitment process to find his permanent replacement, Belfast Chief Executive Suzanne Wylie, cost £66,970.
The vast majority - £60,000 - was spent on professional recruitment fees, while £3,070 went on advertising, and £3,900 was paid to her assessor, Dr Gillian Stamp.
The entire process was conducted remotely, involving four sets of online interviews.
But despite involving just two online interviews, and no assessment by Dr Stamp, it cost nearly £30,000 more to hire former Richmond CEO Paul Martin as Interim.
£95,000 was paid to UK-based specialist recruiters Odgers Berndston and the Government was unable to provide a breakdown of how this was spent when asked by Express.
Pictured: The process to hire new CEO Suzanne Wylie cost cost £66,970.
As neither candidate travelled to Jersey as part of the interview process, nor did an in-person assessment with Dr Stamp take place in either case, no travel and accommodation expenses were incurred.
Despite this, the total cost of each of the recruitment processes outstripped the amount spent on the 2017 hiring round that resulted in the appointment of Charlie Parker: £50,458.
That sum included £4,483 in travel and accommodation expenses for three shortlisted candidates to attend assessment interviews in London with Dr Stamp and final interviews in Jersey, as well as Dr Stamp’s own fees and expenses.
Overall, Ms Wylie faced four online interviews: an initial “suitability and candidate review interview” with Odgers Berndston, an assessment with Dr Stamp, a “final” interview with the appointment panel, and a meeting with the Chief Minister and Deputy of the Jersey Appointments Commission.
She was also invited to further “engagement meetings” with members of the States Employment Board, Council of Ministers, and States Assembly.
Mr Martin faced just two online interviews before getting the job: an initial suitability assessment with the recruiter and a final interview with the appointment panel.
The Government told Express that its decision to hold Ms Wylie and Mr Martin’s recruitment processes virtually was “due to covid”, with “travel restrictions” also a factor in Mr Martin’s case.
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