The recruiter criticised by the Daily Mail for charging £206,000  to supply an interim manager in a £50,000 a year job has hit back, claiming the newpaper “doesn’t understand interim”.

An article in Monday’s Daily Mail claimed that Bournemouth Council paid over the odds by paying Penna £206,000 for the services of  James Duncan, when the permanent position as transportation services manager carries a salary of £50,603.  

However, a spokeperson for Penna, told Recruiter: “Clearly, the Daily Mail doesn’t understand the concept of interim recruitment. This is a more expensive way of recruiting somebody, but this is the appointment of an experienced and specialist executive into a role that has to be filled.”

Mike Holmes, service director, planning and transport, at Bournemouth Borough Council, adds: “This is a vital role within the council. We do not believe it is acceptable to leave such a vital role unfilled.

“Of course we do not want to be paying more than necessary for this post, but after advertising the post twice we have failed to attract the calibre of person necessary to fill the position. The market is continually changing and we are frequently reviewing all our options.  It was always the intention to readvertise this post in early summer, and we fully intend to do so.”