Perth Voice Interactive

VINCENT’S new CEO is 38-year-old Len Kosova, formerly planning director at Wanneroo city council.

He was unanimously approved by councillors Tuesday night, with even John Pintabona (the only councillor who’d wanted to keep John Giorgi) agreeing he was the right man for the job. “We had 53 candidates but in the end we were blown away by Len’s interview,” mayor John Carey said.

Energy

“Len stood out for his energy, his expertise and his record of creating change in the Wanneroo planning section.”

Mr Kosova says he wants to focus on consistent decisions and advice, an area the council’s been criticised for lately by discontented residents in the public gallery: “Anyone should be able to ask anyone in the department a question and get the same answer,” Mr Kosova says. “The answer shouldn’t vary by person.”

With his background, the council will be hoping Mr Kosova can sort out problems in Vincent’s planning department.

With Mr Kosova on board and new planning director Gabriela Poezyn recently installed in the long-vacant role (poached from Nedlands), Mr Carey hopes the area will improve.

The new CEO is also keen on cutting down on bureaucratic language in material sent to ratepayers.

Mr Kosova did not seem fazed by impending mergers, due to kick off midway next year if the premier sticks to his plans.

“It’s just part of the business for councils affected by local government reform processes,” he says.

Mr Kosova starts at Vincent as soon as the loose ends at Wanneroo are tied up.

by DAVID BELL