Greater Sudbury is losing another high-profile manager. Lorella Hayes, the city's award-winning budget chief, is leaving the corporation to become the vice-president of corporate services with Greater Sudbury Utilities.
She has been chief financial officer with the city since 2005, and was a senior manager with KPMG before that. Last year, her responsibilities were expanded to include oversight of Greater Sudbury Transit, among other new responsibilities.
Last November, her department received a distinguished budget award for the 2014 municipal budget from the Government Finance Officer Association of the United States and Canada.
“This is the highest form of recognition in government budgeting and represents a significant achievement,” the city said in a press release at the time.
And in June 2014, the department received another GFOA Award, for Financial Reporting for the 2012 Annual Financial Report.
As the GSU's vice-president of corporate services, Hayes will be responsible for the leadership, strategy and planning of the corporation’s business functions in the areas of finance, accounting, regulatory, customer service and data management, and material management. She replaces Nancy Whissell, who announced earlier this year she will retire at the end of December.
Hayes is the fourth manager to leave the city since the October 2014 municipal election. In February, Catherine Matheson, the city's manager of community development, left on a two-year secondment to become a senior director with the Northeast LHIN. Former CAO Doug Nadorozny left abruptly in April amid speculation he had been dismissed.
He was replaced by Bob Johnston, the head of Greater Sudbury Airport.
Johnston was expected to hold the job on an interim basis until a permanent CAO was found, but he left abruptly at the end of September and was replaced by Kevin Fowke, the city's human resources manager.
In a news release, Fowke thanked Hayes for her service.
“As the shareholder of Greater Sudbury Utilities, the City of Greater Sudbury is very pleased that Lorella Hayes has accepted this opportunity and that her considerable expertise remains within the municipality,” Fowke said in the release. “We sincerely appreciate the tremendous contributions Lorella has made to the City of Greater Sudbury and we wish her continued success.”
The release also said the city is working with employees to develop a transition plan “for leadership and structure under the portfolio held by Hayes, including finance, assets and Greater Sudbury Transit, until a permanent replacement can be found.
“It is anticipated an interim reporting structure will be brought to Greater Sudbury Council for consideration by Nov. 9.”
Ward 1 Coun. Mark Signoretti, who chairs the GSU's board of directors, said the utility would benefit from her expertise.
"We welcome Ms. Hayes to Greater Sudbury Utilities as VP Corporate Services," said Mark Signoretti, Chair of the GSU Board of Directors. "This is an opportunity to utilize Lorella's knowledge and experience to further serve our customers, our shareholder and our community. We think she'll be a great asset and a great fit."
