The National Drug Commission is searching for a new leader after the shock resignation of Christina Wineinger was announced yesterday.

Mrs. Wineinger held the position of NDC chief executive officer for only nine months after replacing long-time CEO Derrick Binns in November, 2001.

Her resignation was announced in a press release from NDC chairman Malcolm Butterfield.

"We understand that Mrs. Wineinger will be pursuing other opportunities," he said.

Last night Mrs. Wineinger declined to elaborate on her next move but told The Royal Gazette she would be taking a local position.

"I was presented with new opportunities that I didn't want to pass up," she said.

Prior to winning the NDC post, Mrs. Wineinger ran her own management consulting company.

Mr. Butterfield told The Royal Gazette he was shocked by the resignation and finding a replacement for the key role within Bermuda's lead drug prevention agency would be a challenge.

"This is not a position that will be filled at first blush," he said. "We're certainly not going to fill it without the requisite amount of searching and looking for another head.

"We will try to act in the best interests of the National Drug Commission and the greater community in finding a suitable replacement."

Whether that replacement can be found within Bermuda is open to question, he said, although the NDC will search extensively on the Island.

The chairman denied the surprise exit of the CEO was a setback for the commission. "We're going to stay on course," he said.

Mrs. Wineinger's resignation is to take effect today and Arnold J. Todd III will be taking over as acting CEO tomorrow.

Last night the outgoing CEO told The Royal Gazette she had "no regrets" on leaving the NDC and felt confident she was leaving behind a strong team.

"I believe we accomplished some good things albeit I was not here very long," she said.

"She's fulfilled the goals one could fulfil up to the time she's given us," Mr. Butterfield commented.

He declined to answer whether Mrs. Wineinger had met the terms of her contract. "We've come to an amiable conclusion to her time at the NDC," he said.

While the press statement released yesterday said the NDC intends to invite Mrs. Wineinger to continue working with the commission on a consultant basis, she said she had yet to commit to this role. "That's still under discussion," she said.

The press statement added: "During her term with the NDC, substantial progress has been made on revising the National Plan for the NDC and this document will update short and long term goals and objectives for the NDC."

It also reaffirmed the board's commitment to the goals of the organisation.

"The various programmes and policies impacting substance abuse in Bermuda is a critical issue for our entire community and it is our intention to continue to meet and accomplish successfully our plan in this area.

"The NDC looks forward to working with all the agencies and organisations involved in the various treatment and prevention programmes here in Bermuda.

"On behalf of the board of the NDC, we would like to wish Mrs. Wineinger every success in her future endeavours and also to extend to her our appreciation for her contribution as the chief executive officer of the National Drug Commission." The NDC is the second drug prevention agency to be hit by top resignations this year.

Four members of the board of FOCUS Counselling Service - which receives funding from NDC - resigned in April following a leadership challenge to the position of executive director Sandy Butterfield.