Leadership in a crisis

Christchurch Council CEO Tony Marryatt has defended his pay rise using the typical reasons, and I don't disagree with them, although I'm sure many of his staff would meet the same criteria and not getting the same level of increase, especially when one of his justifications is that he has "never worked as hard in my life".

However, part of the job of a good CEO is to provide leadership. Leadership in a crisis situation, more so.

Refusing the pay rise during this time was a leadership opportunity, and now many people do not think of him as a leader. The respect they could have had for him is diminished. For a CEO looking for a long career, that may ultimately have been worth more than $68,000.