THE head of the civil service has had his contract extended by two years – and been given a double-digit pay rise.
Government chief executive Dr Andrew McLaughlin’s six-month fixed-term contract was due to end on 31 December.
Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham said the extension to 2026 would “bring stability and continuity” to the public sector.
Earlier this month, Deputy Jonathan Renouf pressed the Chief Minister to confirm whether Dr McLaughlin would be continuing in the £250,000-a-year role next year amid ongoing concerns about lack of stability at the top tiers of the civil service in recent years.
At the time, Deputy Lyndon Farnham said there was “nothing further to report at this stage”.
During questions in the States Assembly yesterday Deputy Farnham said that Dr McLaughlin would take up a permanent two-year contract from 1 January at an increased salary.
Deputy Farnham said the chief executive’s £250,000 salary had been unchanged since 2018 and would go up to £276,000, an increase of 10.4%.
The States Employment Board confirmed yesterday that Dr McLaughlin’s contract had been extended.
Dr McLaughlin said: “It remains a privilege to be in this role. I am committed to serving the Jersey community and supporting the Chief Minister and government, as we continue to provide essential frontline services and deliver on our priorities.”
Deputy Farnham added: “This contract extension brings stability and continuity across the public sector up to and after the next election.
“Andrew has demonstrated clear and collaborative leadership across Jersey’s public service, as well as good governance and sound financial control, and we look forward to working with him further.”
Dr McLaughlin was appointed interim government chief executive in September last year on secondment from NatWest bank, where he co-led its “commercial and institutional” division.
