Dozens of applicants from all over Canada and the U.S. are vying to be the next CEO of economic development in the region.
The WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation received around 35 resumes for the job left vacant by Sandra Pupatello. She announced her resignation during an explosive news conference last summer.
Outgoing WindsorEssex Economic Development Corporation CEO Sandra Pupatello speaks at a news conference alongside board chairperson Martin Komsa, July 6, 2015. (Photo by Jason Viau)
Rakesh Naidu is currently filling in as the interim CEO and says he's applied for the top job.
"I've been with the organization for over eight years. I have really seen everything that works and also things that don't work," Naidu says. "We have a lot of real good plans that we are executing. There's progress being made."
The search committee, consisting of many board members, has narrowed down and interviewed the applicants.
WEEDC Board Chair Marty Komsa says he's not surprised by the level of interest despite a number of CEOs coming and going over the years.
"The partners who are in charge of the search indicated that there was even more interest than the actual 35 applications that did come in," says Komsa.
The new permanent CEO is expected to be announced by the end of July.
WEEDC is paying a recruiting firm around $30,000-$35,000 to help in finding a new CEO.
Board members also voted to be more transparent and will include the CEO's salary on the next sunshine list, which has never been done before. WEEDC isn't required to disclose salaries, although taxpayers from the city and county fund the operation.