10:46am Friday 19th March 2010
THE organisation that runs the New Forest National Park has appointed a new chief executive, the Daily Echo can reveal.
The National Park Authority (NPA) is refusing to name the successful candidate – known to be a woman – until contracts have been signed.
She is due to begin her £80,000-a-year job in June, when she will take over from interim chief executive Barrie Foley.
Mr Foley was recruited last summer after the NPA’s first chief executive, Lindsay Cornish, resigned following criticism of her leadership style.
It followed months of controversy about the authority’s original management plan, which included road tolls, dog-free car parks and tighter restrictions on horse keeping.
The proposals sparked a mass revolt and were scrapped after Mr Foley took over.
Pressure groups such as Forest Uprising are hoping to establish a good working relationship with his successor.
Tina Cant, one of the founders, said: “Barrie has set the tone by demonstrating a willingness to meet with all parties, engage at all levels and keep an open mind.
“The new chief executive needs to be someone who will get to know the New Forest and understand the area.”
About 130 people were considered for the role. The final selection was made after a short list of 36 was whittled down to three.
An NPA source said: “I feel she’s in the right mould for the job. You need someone who’ll work with the staff, not dominate them.”
The NPA has been looking for a new chief executive since Ms Cornish, 57, resigned last summer.
She left after some of her own staff described her as authoritarian, single-minded and blinkered in a letter to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), which oversees national parks.
Ms Cornish said she was shocked and disappointed by the comments.
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