Chief Executives retirement intentions

MANAWATU District Council Chief Executive, Rod Titcombe, has announced his intention to retire at the end of June next year and bring to a close a 39-year career in local government.
Mr Titcombe - who has been Chief Executive since the council’s formation in 1989 after local government reorganisation - notified Mayor Ian McKelvie, councillors and staff of his decision today.

He said it was time to consider other options after 47 years in the work force and, while he retained good health, the opportunity to enjoy a leisurely retirement had its appeal.
“I am finishing off a dispute resolution course at Massey University at the moment so I hope to utilise that study sometime in the future,” he said.

After finishing his secondary education at Palmerston North Boys’ High School, Mr Titcombe spent eight years with the Audit Department in Wellington before entering local government in 1970 as the Assistant Town Clerk/Accountant for the Feilding Borough Council.

He was the council’s Town Clerk and Chief Executive from 1985 until appointed to his present position 19 years ago.

An active interest in the New Zealand Society of Local Government Managers resulted in Mr Titcombe serving on the national executive for 11 years and as the society’s president from 2003 to 2005.

Mr Titcombe received a MNZM (Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit) in the 2006 New Year’s Honours List for his contribution to local government. He was appointed a Justice of the Peace in 1988.

During his service with Manawatu District, Mr Titcombe has worked with five different mayors and 56 elected councillors.
“In particular, I have found my connection with the elected members really interesting and in having to deal with all the different personalities that comes with that,” he said.
Mr Titcombe has thoroughly enjoyed his career in local government – an industry that provides an ongoing mix of community contact and day-to-day variety in the workplace.
“You can be dealing with matters around infrastructural services like water, sewerage or roads one moment, and then be involved with the more social and community side of council the next.”

He said the major reorganisation reforms in 1989 had been “without doubt” the most significant change he had experienced during his time in local government.

“The Feilding Borough and four counties combined to form the Manawatu District Council and I had the responsibility of making that happen.”

Mr Titcombe was appointed Chief Executive Designate of the proposed council 10 months ahead of the changeover date and faced the task of building up the new council.
“It was extremely challenging and rewarding and you felt that you had some ownership,” he said.
Mr Titcombe praised the quality of staff he had worked with over the years and the support and strength of the management teams who had melded together in the interests of the community and the council.