Alderney welcomes new States' chief executive

The former chief executive Andrew Muter stepped down from the role in November last year. No reason was given for his departure, other than it was by ‘mutual agreement’.

He had signalled his intention to resign in February but stayed on following the outbreak of Covid-19.

Alderney had four applicants for the role. Interviews took place in early February and while the newly-formed Chief Executive Appointment Board thought that all four candidates had strengths, skills and talents, ‘after extensive deliberation’ it decided to appoint Ms Jones.

Ms Jones was formerly Sark’s senior administrator, working in the island for five years. Prior to that she held senior roles with the Local Government Association and the London Borough of Redbridge.

Following confirmation from the States, Ms Jones arrived in Alderney at about 2pm today [23 March], almost immediately after inter-island travel restrictions were lifted in the Bailiwick.

She arrived on the island on a 36ft Cygnus private local charter boat 'Te Aroha' from Sark to begin her new role as chief executive of the States of Alderney.

Together with her dog Dexter, she was welcomed to the island in the harbour by chairman of the Policy & Finance committee Bill Abel and fellow States member Graham McKinley.

Now she will begin the difficult job of sorting out the northern island's transport and economic issues alongside a relatively new set of States members who now face the added challenges imposed by the recent Covid lockdown.