The Strathcona Regional District has hired a new chief administrative officer to lead the organization.
David Leitch will report to work in his new role on March 1.
John MacDonald, chair of the regional district board, said the organization is pleased to welcome Leitch aboard.
“We are excited to have Dave join us,” MacDonald said. “He has significant local government management experience, and his knowledge of regional governance and engineering expertise will be a tremendous asset to the organization. We look forward to working with him.”
Leitch has more than 20 years of local government experience behind him, in the fields of engineering, administration, public works and utilities.
A graduate of the British Columbia Institute of Technology (B.C.I.T), he has a diploma in civil engineering with additional certificates in management, local government administration, and water and waste water management.
Leitch has held senior management positions with the Comox Valley Regional District, the Cowichan Valley Regional District and the Regional District of Nanaimo.
Leitch said he is looking forward to getting to work in his new position.
“Taking on the role of CAO for Strathcona Regional District is a wonderful opportunity for me,” Leitch said.
“I enjoy working in a collaborative, team-based environment, and I look forward to working with the board and the senior management team to help realize the regional district’s goals and objectives.”
Leitch takes over from former CAO Russ Hotsenpiller who resigned in November after accepting the CAO position with the Islands Trust.
Hotsenpiller stayed on, however, until early December but the regional district has been without a permanent CAO since then.