Katanning CEO announced: Shire of Wyalkatchem CEO Peter Klein to take the reins

The Shire of Katanning has announced Peter Klein as its new chief executive. He will fill the void left by Julian Murphy, who relocated to the Shire of Plantagenet last month. Interim CEO Dale Putland will remain in post until Mr Klein takes up the appointment on December 13. Mr Klein, who has served as the chief executive of the Shire of Wyalkatchem for the last three years, said the size of Katanning was an attractive proposition. “Katanning is a larger and more diverse community so it will offer me bigger and broader challenges, which from a leadership perspective has enormous appeal,” he said. “The staff and resources are also bigger, which facilitates the opportunity to get more done and to have an even bigger and more positive impact on the community. “I think also the council’s commitment to reconciliation and climate resilience is really encouraging and I’m looking forward to building on the past work of the council and staff in those areas.” The agricultural science graduate’s arrival coincides with the departure of outgoing shire president Liz Guidera. “It’s well-timed, particularly following Liz’s resignation as president and the opportunity that creates for me to build a relationship with the new president,” he said. “It gives me a chance to reset the council’s priorities and future directions with the new president and councillors.” Mr Klein said his time as CEO of Mid West Ports has equipped him with transferable skills that he could effectively apply in the Katanning office. “I think the Mid West Ports experience in particular has made my transition to local government very comfortable,” he said. “It’s a statutory authority and its governance processes are essentially the same as a local government and guided by an Act of Parliament. “Our audit, our procurement and our record-keeping obligations were essentially the same as for a local government; it gave me a substantial leadership obligation for about 140 staff.” The shire announced the appointment in a Facebook post on October 11. Ms Guidera said they were excited for Mr Klein’s arrival. “We believe Peter is the right candidate to provide strong leadership to our organisation and community, and we look forward to working together in the best interests of Katanning,” she said. “His corporate experience and track record of driving economic growth and leading teams make him an ideal fit for our shire.” Mr Putland, who began acting as CEO on August 28, will depart when Mr Klein assumes the role.