Melbourne City Council senior executive Sophie Handley resigns amid ‘lack of direction’

Several councillors and senior staff are dismayed at the lack of direction and leadership in Melbourne City Council, as another key executive resigned.

Another Melbourne Town Hall senior executive has resigned amid criticisms the council is “rudderless”. Picture: David Crosling

Another senior executive has left Melbourne Town Hall amid growing unease about the “rudderless” direction of the city council with less than a year to go until local elections.

City Strategy director Sophie Handley resigned from her role at short notice, just over a week ago, telling colleagues she was “relieved that the stress of uncertainty is over”.

In a farewell message to her team, Ms Handley wrote: “Sometimes the systems don’t help us, sometimes the outside world puts up unassailable barriers, sometimes the truth is lost in the public conversations – we manage all those things and still work together to deliver our work in grand style and to a very high standing.”

Her sudden exit comes after controversial former general manager of infrastructure and property Roger Teale was moved from the role to a “special adviser” position in the chief executive’s office.

Roger Teale moved to a “special adviser” position in the chief executive’s office.

The council has refused to outline Mr Teale’s new responsibilities.

The former Lendlease executive, who is currently on leave, was the subject of a complaint to IBAC over conflict of interest claims but the corruption watchdog decided against investigating the matter.

Chief financial officer Michael Tenace is also leaving his senior executive position but will move into an advisory role “focused on delivering key strategic and commercial projects”.

He will remain as chief financial officer until a replacement is appointed in the new year.

City Economy and Activation general manager Katrina McKenzie left several weeks ago after more than four years in the role.

Several councillors and senior executive staff are privately dismayed at the lack of direction and leadership in Town Hall at the moment.

“The Lord Mayor’s Office is an island and no one can figure out what they are doing and the CEO is completely consumed with her restructure,” one senior Town Hall source said.

“There’s no clear direction and we’re effectively rudderless at the moment – lots of policies and projects are in limbo.

“We’ve lost focus and no longer seem able to respond to the needs of our residents and ratepayers.”

Former Melbourne City Council chief executive Justin Hanney. Picture: Aaron Francis

Another Town Hall source, who did not wish to be named for fear of reprisal, said the council had been consumed by internal matters.

“The organisation effectively lost close to a year dealing with the former CEO’s exit and we’re still not doing anything of substance or that resonates with the community,” he said.

Former chief executive Justin Hanney resigned late last year after the Herald Sun revealed he had been soliciting donations for his yacht racing – some of which were paid anonymously.

A review into his accepting anonymous donations was initiated in the middle of 2022 after the story broke.

The council’s current chief executive, Alison Leighton, was appointed in July this year.

Ms Leighton was acting in the role until being appointed permanently.

Another major change to the council’s structure is junking the role of deputy chief executive – which was previously held by Ms Leighton before she was appointed to the top job.

“I have made the decision, based on my preferred structure moving forward, that a deputy CEO role is no longer required,” Ms Leighton said.

“The deputy CEO was particularly valuable during the pandemic period.

“The responsibilities previously managed by the deputy CEO will be allocated across the executive leadership team.”

The deputy chief executive position previously came with a ratepayer-funded salary of more than $400,000.