A PRIVATE consultancy firm contracted to find a new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for National Flour Mills (NFM) is reportedly having a hard time getting someone to lead the ailing State enterprise.

Apparently, no one wants to be in the hot seat since an explosion at the NFM Edible Oils Complex on October 19, 2005 resulted in the deaths of two employees.

Former CEO Michael Potella had resigned the position in September, approximately one month before the explosion.

But former Works Minister Jearlean John, whose name was whispered to TnT Mirror as the person tipped to take up the post, has since said she has “no intention” of taking the job as CEO of NFM.

The former Works Minister and current CEO of Pizza Boys Restaurants contacted Mirror soon after the story was published to set the record straight.

John didn’t seem angry that she was named as the preferred person for the post, but she insisted that she was not in line for the job and would not be considering it anytime soon.

“I have not applied for the job, and I have no interest in working in the State sector at this time,” said a polite but firm-voiced John when she spoke to Mirror.

Several well-placed persons are said to be “very disappointed” that the former Works Minister is not interested in the opportunity to turn NFM around, especially with a track record of having successfully transformed the Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC) into a Modernised Customer Service Provider.

In their opinion, John’s reputation as an administrator who strives for thoroughness and excellence makes her the ideal person to tighten up loose ends in an organisation that has consistently scored low marks in the area of occupational health and safety.

Two managers, and another employee have been sent on leave pending further investigations into the explosion, which has so far determined that the fatal explosion was the result of a high degree of negligence.