Kaipara District Council chief executive Steve Ruru has been appointed to head the Southland District Council.
He has headed the Kaipara district for three years, after being appointed to manage the fallout from a major cost over-run in a sewerage scheme.
Before that he was chief executive at the Thames-Coromandel District Council.
Southland District Mayor Gary Tong said yesterday he was extremely pleased.
''We had several excellent applicants for this role and Steve shone out with his enthusiasm and professionalism.''
Mr Ruru said he was looking forward to his new role and the many opportunities it presented.
He will take over on October 20, replacing David Adamson, who began a new job in June as the Christchurch City Council's director of facilities and infrastructure rebuild.
