Steven Perdia will be the next Whakatāne District Council chief executive.

Mr Perdia is currently the council’s general manager strategy and transformation, having joined the organisation in July 2021.

Mayor Victor Luca said Mr Perdia had a grounding in economics, with an honours degree in economics and strategic management that he had put to use in a variety of business and central and local government roles.

"Before taking up his current general manager role here with us, Steven was a general manager at Porirua City Council and spent six years in post-quake Christchurch leading the economic recovery strategy.”

“I’m delighted to be able to announce this appointment. I’ve found Steve to be a highly dedicated General Manager with a good sense of humour, which I consider a good foundation on which to further build our working relationship, for the good of the communities we serve,” Mr Luca said.

Chair of the Chief Executive Performance and Support Committee (CEPSC) Councillor Nándor Tánczos said Mr Perdia was the successful candidate following a robust recruitment process that attracted 65 applicants.

“The committee worked with external recruitment specialists to examine and refine a long list of candidates from which eight people were interviewed and four progressed to a final interview by the full council.”

The chief executive role was recently vacated by Steph O’Sullivan who led the executive team since November 2018 and will later this month start as chief executive of Waipa District Council.

The council's general manager development and environment services David Bewley will continue as acting chief executive until Mr Perdia takes up his appointment in early September.