Liverpool City Council has appointed Jason Breton as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Mayor, Ned Mannoun said the appointment – confirmed by a unanimous vote of council – followed an exhaustive recruitment process led by an external consultant.
“I want to thank my fellow members of the selection panel for their hard work – Deputy Mayor Peter Harle and Councillors Sam Karnib, Dr Betty Green, Fiona Macnaught and Peter Ristevski,” said Mayor Mannoun.
“There were more than 100 applicants for the position, which shows that Liverpool Council is held in high esteem as a preferred place of employment.
“It says a lot that a boy who grew up on one of the city’s toughest streets – Nagle Street – can then go on to be the CEO of the local Council.”
Mr Breton, a former NSW Police Detective Chief Inspector, has been acting in the CEO for the last 12 months and also previously held the role of Director of Operations at Liverpool City Council.
“In that time, Mr Breton has amply demonstrated his talent for strategic oversight and staff leadership,” said Mayor Mannoun.
“His appointment comes at a challenging time for Council as we seek to gain the best outcomes for our residents in this fast-growing region.
“As Acting CEO, Mr Breton has already brought much needed improvements to the city, and he now has a solid mandate to bring improvements to the way Council gets things done,” he said.
Mr Breton said he was looking forward to the challenges and rewards of the role.
“Council will be exploring diverse revenue streams, ensuring transparent financial reporting and involve community in budgeting priorities,” he said.
“The Council needs to prioritise strategic urban planning that’s future-proof (smart cities, green space, transport), collaborate with state and federal bodies for funding and alignment and seek community consultation on major developments to reduce backlash.
“Taking over as the CEO of Liverpool City Council in NSW is a huge responsibility — and not without its challenges.“The area is fast-growing, multicultural, politically complex, and undergoing rapid urban development.
“However I know my team well, they know me, and in the short term I will be concentrating on improving our front line operations, so that our residents get the level of service they deserve.”
