Redland City Council accused the recruitment firm hired to find its next chief executive of breaching its contract and potentially misleading candidates after the company abruptly withdrew from the hiring process.
In a strongly worded letter sent to executive search firm Leading Roles, council officials outlined a series of concerns about the company’s conduct during the recruitment process before it terminated its agreement in November 2025.
Leading Roles had been engaged in September 2025 on a $36,850 contract to conduct a national search for a new chief executive officer following the resignation of the previous CEO Andrew Chesterman.
But the relationship between the council and the recruiter broke down weeks into the process, with council claiming the firm failed to follow agreed communication protocols and refused requests to provide recruitment records.
In the letter, council’s Executive Group Manager People, Culture and Organisational Performance Amanda Daly said Leading Roles had been instructed that all communication regarding the recruitment process was to be directed through her as council’s nominated contact.
“Contrary to instructions provided to Leading Roles, during the period of the contract you failed to ensure that all communication be directed to me as Council’s primary contact,” Ms Daly wrote.
Council also alleged the firm had communicated directly with the mayor and provided recruitment material to her that was not initially shared with council officers.
The letter states that when officers later requested a copy of a recruitment project summary that had been sent to the mayor, the recruiter refused to provide it.
Council further accused the firm of misunderstanding who its client was during the recruitment process.
“Leading Roles fundamentally appears to have failed to appreciate who its client was and that panel make-up and recruitment process information belonged to Council, for determination by councillors,” the letter states.
The dispute escalated on November 11, 2025 when Leading Roles notified council it had decided to withdraw its services.
Council claims the termination took effect immediately without reasonable notice and without alleging any breach by council that could not be remedied.
The letter also raises concerns about communications sent by the recruiter to candidates after it withdrew from the process.
According to council, applicants were informed the firm was no longer delivering the project and were invited to contact Leading Roles if they wished to withdraw from the recruitment process or have their details removed.
Council said those communications risked undermining its ability to continue discussions with candidates.
The council also claimed statements made to applicants suggested the recruitment process lacked unity or appropriate governance.
In the letter, Ms Daly wrote the recruiter had referred to “the absolute need for unity in the council in the decision making process for an executive appointment” and raised concerns about “the council’s probity and governance through this recruitment”.
Council said those statements falsely suggested the recruitment process lacked proper oversight.
The council also demanded the recruiter immediately provide the contact details and applications of all candidates who had applied for the role.
Officials said the information was needed so council could mitigate the risk of losing potential applicants and continue the recruitment process.
The council warned it was reviewing its legal position over the termination and reserved its rights, raising the possibility the recruiter’s conduct could amount to misleading or deceptive behaviour.
Council later moved to appoint a new recruitment firm to continue the search for a chief executive before appointing Louise Rusan in February 2025.
Mark Ogston from Leading Roles said he would not speak with the media about confidential processes, nor would he speak on or off the record about current or past clients.
