Saturday 08 December 2012
Mark de Garis will take up the post of Chief Officer of the Culture and Leisure Department from 1 January 2013.
Mark is currently Assistant Chief Officer at the Guernsey Border Agency. In his new role, as well as having responsibility for the Culture and Leisure Department, he will also become more involved in cross-cutting States work, in the short term supporting elements of the Financial Transformation Programme (FTP).
States of Guernsey Chief Executive Mike Brown said:
"Mark's background provides an additional and complimentary skillset to the group of Chief Officers across the States. As well as managing his department and advising his board, he will have an important role in the implementation of efficiency savings across the States. I am pleased to welcome him to the senior team of the civil service."
Mark de Garis said:
"I am delighted to take up this position. Culture and Leisure's services are an essential facet of our community's well-being, unique cultural identity and rich heritage".
"I am also looking forward to working on States-wide projects, and playing a part in the ongoing programme of change in the civil service."
Deputy Mike O'Hara, Minister for Culture and Leisure, said:
"Mark's professionalism, his energy, and his desire to work with staff and the Board to move the Department forward have really impressed me. I am very much looking forward to working with him."
Ends
Notes to media:
1. Mark was educated at Elizabeth College after which he joined HM Armed Forces. He returned to the Island in 1985 initially working for the Income Tax Authority before joining the Guernsey Border Agency. In 2001, appointed as its first Director, Mark established the Financial Intelligence Service staffed jointly by GBA and Police Officers. Under Mark's stewardship the FIS quickly built a strong reputation both internationally and domestically where it has also played an important role in contributing to the success of recent IMF/World Bank inspections of the financial services sector in the Bailiwick. Promoted to Assistant Chief Officer for the GBA in 2004, he has been responsible for leading and delivering the Agency's law enforcement mandate and associated operations and recently has led cross Government FTP projects. Mark is a Certified Fraud Examiner and became a Chartered Manager in 2012.
2. Mark replaces Dave Chilton who has retired after 24 years working for the States of Guernsey and will be taking up a part time post in the voluntary sector as Chief Executive of the Guernsey Community Foundation, with effect from January 2013
3. For more information about the Culture and Leisure Department, go to: http://www.gov.gg/cultureleisure
