The board of Auckland Council's water company will on Friday consider the future of its chief executive, who has been on sick leave all year.
Mark Ford is one of the country's highest-paid public servants but has been away following major surgery.
Mark Ford Photo: SUPPLIED
Company chair David Clarke would say only that the matter would be discussed at the board's scheduled monthly meeting on Friday.
Mr Ford earns more than $700,000 a year - a salary which has been covered by the company's insurance during his illness.
He is one of Auckland's most influential public sector leaders, having also led the agency which amalgamated the region's eight local bodies and chaired the united city's new transport agency.
Mr Ford was brought in by the Government two years ago to chair coal miner Solid Energy after it hit trouble but stepped down as chair and then left the board this year due to his illness.
He is also on sick leave from another role as the chair of the group overseeing part of the rebuild in earthquake-damaged Christchurch.