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The HSRC will soon start the recruitment process for the appointment of a CEO to succeed Dr Mark Orkin. Dr Orkin has decided not to exercise the option of extending his five-year contract and will leave the organisation at the end of July next year. The announcement was made by Professor Jakes Gerwel, Chairman of the HSRC Council. Professor Gerwel said that the Council, following its succession procedure, will shortly commence recruitment for the next CEO, to take office in August 2005. Nearly a year has been allowed for the process, including a comprehensive hand-over. "I offered Dr Orkin the opportunity to consider extending his contract, but he declined" Professor Gerwel said. "He has successfully led the transformation of the HSRC in the last four years into a large, vibrant and sustainable organisation. He believes that it is an appropriate time for Council to seek a new CEO, ideally a black research leader."
Dr Orkin was formerly Head of Stats SA, a Professor at the University of the Witwatersrand, and Director of C A S E. He was a Rhodes Scholar, and has degrees from the universities of Witwatersrand, Oxford and Sussex. "Dr Orkin’s current contract runs for another ten months", Dr Gerwel said. "That is an adequate period to advertise for and assess potential successors, internal and external, as well as prepare the successful candidate for taking over the position. The HSRC Council is confident of finding another dynamic leader to extend the local and international research activities of the organisation,” Professor Gerwel said. As CEO, Dr Orkin has led an extensive improvement in the HSRC's research coverage, output, and earnings, as well as staff representivity. Through the creation of ten research programmes oriented to national development challenges, each led by an executive director, the HSRC now provides a comprehensive service to its predominantly public sector users. Dr Orkin said he did not yet have plans for after the end of his term at the HSRC. “I may seek another position in the public-interest knowledge sector. This is an area in which I have experience, and I have found it very worthwhile."
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