Deputy State Services Commissioner Iain Rennie is to step into the political hot seat being vacated by his boss Mark Prebble.
State Services Minister David Parker said Mr Rennie's appointment had been recommended unanimously by a panel of Jim Bolger, DameMargaret Bazley, Stan Rodger and himself.
Mr Rennie
has been Deputy State Service Commissioner since 2007 and replaces Dr Prebble when his resignation takes effect at the end of June.
Dr Prebble announced his resignation in January - a year before his contract expired - citing ill-health.
He faced intense pressure from opposition parties last year over a series of employment mis-steps at the Ministry for the Environment. The result was two inquiries and the resignations of Cabinet minister David Benson-Pope and ministry chief executive Hugh Logan.
Dr Prebble was severely criticised by National for his inquiries into the issues and accused of overseeing the politicisation of the public service.
National also took exception to not being consulted over his successor.
Mr Parker said Mr Rennie had the judgment and experience to be the head of the civil service.
"The State Services Commissioner must have a thorough understanding of New Zealand's constitution and government system, and how these work.
"He must also have the ability to perform important statutory and constitutional roles with wisdom, integrity, consistency and courage," said Mr Parker.
"In his Public Service career to date, Mr Rennie has shown that he has these characteristics in abundance."
A career public servant, Mr Rennie has held positions at the Treasury, the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and in the State Services Commission.
He has degrees in economics and history from Victoria University of Wellington. He has also completed an Oxford Strategic Leadership Programme from Templeton College, University of Oxford, United Kingdom.
- NZPA
