The Shire of Plantagenet has appointed Garry Bird to succeed outgoing chief executive Julian Murphy after a special meeting of the council on Tuesday.

Mr Bird has local government experience spanning several shires, including Cranbrook, Wandering and Denmark but comes to Plantagenet from the Shire of Mundaring where he was director of corporate services.

He will take up his role from August 31.

The incoming CEO said he was looking forward to his new job.

“This opportunity is especially meaningful to me because the Shire of Plantagenet is where I began my local government career,” he said.

“I am passionate about giving back to a community that helped shape who I am today.

“I look forward to working closely with the president, councillors, staff and the broader community to build on the shire’s strong foundations, support sustainable growth and deliver positive outcomes for residents now and into the future.”

Shire president Len Handasyde welcomed Mr Bird.

“His wealth of experience steering local governments will be an asset to the organisation as we move into the delivery phase of many of our key projects,” he said.

“Mr Bird is a familiar face to the Great Southern, having grown up in Albany and maintained strong personal and professional connections to the region.”

Mr Murphy announced his resignation in April after spending 30 years in local government.

He said then that a brush with serious ill health had left him wanting to concentrate on his recovery.

“When you are confronted by a life-threatening situation you tend to re-evaluate,” he said.

He had come to the Shire of Plantagenet in 2023 from the Shire of Katanning and, prior to that, the Shire of Corrigin.