City of Melbourne chief executive Alison Leighton slammed for controversial move

City of Melbourne chief executive Alison Leighton has come under fire for a move which has been described as “completely out of step with community expectation”.

Alison Leighton provided a glowing reference for Fisher Leadership which is published on its website. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Crosling

The City of Melbourne’s CEO is under fire for providing a public endorsement of the recruiting company that helped her get Town Hall’s top job.

Alison Leighton was appointed as permanent CEO in July 2023, after taking on the role in an acting capacity in October 2022.

Ms Leighton provided a glowing reference for the company which is published on its website.

“Fisher Leadership was highly professional and always communicated clearly with up to date information throughout the application process,” she said.

“Overall, it was a very positive candidate experience. David Baber was excellent to work with and I would gladly work with Fisher Leadership in the future”.

Screenshot of Alison Leighton's statement about Fisher Leadership, who secured her job

Council Watch president Dean Hurlston said Ms Leighton should not have publicly recommended a company because it had the potential to cause a conflict of interest.

“It’s completely inappropriate for the CEO of a council to be giving endorsements to a private company that helped secure her the top job,” he said.

“It is completely out of step with community expectation.”

Mr Hurlston said new rules and guidelines needed to be created to prevent council executives from providing public support or recommendations to specific companies.

“There needs to be a clear industry policy that bans those sorts of endorsements because they carry commercial value,” he said.

Chief executive officer of Melbourne City Council Alison Leighton has been slammed for publicly endorsing the recruiting firm which got her the job at Town Hall. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Mr Hurlston said instances such as Ms Leighton’s endorsement of Fisher Leadership helped to reduce trust in the local government sector.

“All of this, needs to stop because it is just undermining confidence in the sector,” he said.

The Herald Sun asked several questions about whether it was appropriate for Ms Leighton to spruik a specific recruitment firm but the council refused to provide any answer.

The council also refused to answer if Fisher Leadership had been contracted for recruiting services for the council after Ms Leighton was appointed to the role permanently.

The Fisher Leadership job ad for the City of Melbourne’s CEO position spruiked the importance of the role and the need to secure an experienced candidate.

“As the holder of one of the most influential and enviable roles in local government in Australia, the CEO will champion innovation and collaborative community and stakeholder engagement to ensure that the organisation remains at the forefront of the sector and that the community is well poised for the future.”

“Success in this role requires a strong track record of achievement at CEO or significant senior executive level in a large, complex, multi-disciplinary organisation, with a strong understanding of the workings of government.”

Ms Leighton’s previous experience as a local government CEO was at Baw Baw Shire Council. The last budget for Baw Baw council with Ms Leighton as its CEO – in 2019-20 – the organisation’s infrastructure budget was just $29.64 million.

Ms Leighton earns $535,000 annually – including superannuation – as chief executive for the City of Melbourne.

The council’s former CEO, Justin Hanney, resigned after a probe into a fundraising campaign he started for his yacht racing hobby received anonymous donations.