Search underway for new North Huron CAO following Evans' departure

BY SCOTT STEPHENSON

North Huron has begun the search for a new Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) in earnest, following the sudden exodus of previous CAO Dwayne Evans in late 2024. At its Dec. 16 meeting, council voted to award the contract for CAO recruitment services to Waterhouse Executive Search (WES) in the amount of $22,000. WES was one of four recruitment companies considered by council, the other three being Ward and Uptigrove, Logic Executive Search, and N.G. Bellchamber and Associates. 

 

WES’ $22,000 fee includes psychometric testing for aptitude, management, and leadership testing and job advertisements. They also offer a 19-month replacement guarantee, should their chosen candidate resign or be released for performance-related reasons during that time period. 

 

During the deciding process, Councillor Anita van Hittersum asked if anybody had worked with any of the four companies. Clerk and acting CAO Carson Lamb replied that the township had previously utilized the services of N.G. Bellchamber, but that all four firms are very reputable. Bellchamber’s proposal was $250 per hour, for approximately 80 to 110 hours, not including out-of-pocket expenses. Councillor Mitch Wright spoke in favour of the proposal from WES. “It’s got a short timeline, which is better than a long one, and it’s not quite the lowest cost, but it’s close to it. And they provide the best guarantee… the fact that they’re willing to offer a long guarantee usually means they’re good at what they do, and never have to honour that guarantee,” he said. 

 

WES has quoted an estimated timeline of between six and eight weeks to find North Huron’s new CAO. In Lamb’s estimation, WES will likely be able to find a worthy CAO during that period. “They feel quite confident that they can meet those timelines, or they wouldn’t have put it in,” he explained. 

 

WES will now be working under the direction of the newly-appointed CAO Recruitment Team, which is comprised of Reeve Paul Heffer, Deputy-Reeve Kevin Falconer and Wright. An advertisement has already been drafted by WES and has been posted online.