Shropshire Council unanimously agreed the appointment of an “outstanding” new chief executive today.

Kim Ryley, who currently heads Kingston upon Hull City Council, has more than 25 years experience of working in local government.

The 56-year-old said he was “thrilled” to have been appointed to his new role which carries a salary of up to £180,000 a year.

“Shropshire seems like a great place to live and work, and I am looking forward to getting started,” he said.

“As chief executive my role will be to ensure that the aspirations of the elected councillors are turned into the reality of service improvements on the ground, to lead the modernisation of our public services and to make them as effective and efficient as possible.”

The exact date of his move to Shropshire is still to be confirmed.

Council leader Keith Barrow said: “I am delighted to have appointed a chief executive with such an outstanding reputation and track record as Kim.

“We interviewed an excellent field of candidates and undertook a very rigorous selection process to ensure that the right candidate for Shropshire was selected.”

Mr Ryley, who has been in his present job for five years, began his career in a range of education roles with the London Borough of Enfield.

He went on to join  Rhondda Cynon Taf County Borough Council as director of education and became its chief executive in 1998.

During his six years in post, he turned around the performance of the authority.