Eric Sorensen, chief administrative officer (CAO) for the City of Penticton announced on Friday his departure from City Hall.
He will continue to serve in his current role until Sept. 19 at which time he will transition to an interim position leading strategic projects to assist the municipality to complete a number of key projects he has set in place.
“The City has been very fortunate to have someone of Mr. Sorensen’s calibre lead our staff team for the past 13 months. His experience and knowledge of corporate sector efficiencies have been crucial in putting in place plans for long-term sustainability and fiscal responsibility. We share a vision of opportunity, growth and prosperity for the City and we will continue to maintain these values in our leadership," said Mayor Andrew Jakubeit in a press release.
Previous to joining the city, Sorensen had retired after an extremely successful private sector career. (Read more: City hires CAO with strong background)
“I wanted to use my corporate world know-how to help a community I’m very fond of," Sorensen said upon his agreement to take the role as CAO.
Sorensen explained to staff and council that he is ready to focus on some strategic projects for the city and embrace a balance of family and work that is not possible in the demanding role of the CAO.
“I want to continue to work to ensure the city is the best it can be, but I also want to enjoy the opportunity and quality of life that we are building.”
Sorensen said moving away from the administration role will provide him the opportunity to focus his efforts on the strategic priorities of the city and his strengths in leading change, strategic direction and relationship management. Projects that will continue to benefit from his expertise include: the city’s financial sustainability against challenging infrastructure improvement demands; work with regional partners on finding shared service efficiencies; the current budget preparation and key relationships with community partners including the Penticton Indian Band.
“We appreciate the demands that Mr. Sorensen has on his time both personally and professionally. We are very happy to have his expertise on special projects until Spring” said Jakubeit.
According to the press release the city has a plan for a smooth transition that includes an interim CAO, though details have not yet not been finalized. They expect to have a new CAO in place in six months' time.
“The flexibility Mr. Sorensen is offering the city allows us to transition smoothly without any loss of momentum” said Jakubeit.