Norfolk County Council has appointed Dennis Bacon as chief executive on £215,000 a year following a contested recruitment process overall.
Norfolk County Council has appointed Dennis Bacon as its new chief executive on a salary of £215,000 a year.
Councillors backed the appointment by 45 votes to 18, with five abstentions, following a debate at County Hall.
Mr Bacon has a background in business and adult social care and previously chaired the Norfolk Independent Care Association. He has also worked with organisations across the health and care sector.
However, opposition councillors have raised concerns about the recruitment process used to select him for one of the most senior jobs in Norfolk local government.
The final interview lasted around one hour, prompting criticism that the process was not sufficiently rigorous for a role overseeing a council with an annual budget of more than £2 billion and thousands of employees.
Norfolk County Council leader David Bick has defended the appointment.
He says candidates had already undergone extensive vetting and assessment by council officers before reaching the interview stage and insists Mr Bacon was the best person for the job.
The appointment was also supported by councillors from Great Yarmouth First.
Mr Bacon is expected to take up the chief executive role on Monday 7 September, replacing former chief executive Tom McCabe.

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