David Smol appointed interim ministry chief

By Idealog, April 26, 2012 @ 2:58 pm

Ministry of Economic Development chief executive David Smol has been handed the responsibility of acting chief executive at the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.

This week the the government confirmed its intention to establish the new Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment by bringing together all the existing functions of the Ministry of Economic Development, Ministry of Science and Innovation, Department of Labour, and Department of Building and Housing.  

The four agencies will come together on July 1 under a single chief executive and their respective chief executives made redundant. The appointment of a permanent chief executive is expected to be made by the end of September.  

From now until June 30, Smol's MED responsibilities will be delegated.

It is expected that the Order in Council necessary to establish the MBIE will be made on May 14 and that Smol will then be empowered to make decisions to take effect from July relating to the establishment of the ministry.

State Services Commissioner, Iain Rennie, said each chief executive would contribute to the transition process.

Smol was appointed MED chief in 2008.  

He joined the ministry in April 2003 as deputy secretary responsible for the energy and communications branch. 

Previously he was a director of an Oxford-based energy consulting firm, with clients in the UK and Europe.