MEET the new top boss at City of York Council.

Bill McCarthy has been chosen to replace outgoing chief executive David Atkinson, on a salary of at least £130,000.

The 44-year-old will come to York from the Department of Health, having been chosen from an "extremely strong field of applicants", said a council spokesperson.

Mr McCarthy said: "I am delighted to have been appointed, and am really looking forward to joining the council and working on behalf of the people of York in the future."

Heather Rice, director of people and improvement at the authority, said: "We are delighted to confirm that, following a very intensive and thorough selection process, Bill has been appointed.

"We very much look forward to him joining the council and working together to serve the people of York."

Council leader Steve Galloway said: "The selection panel unanimously endorsed the decision to offer the post to Bill McCarthy.

"Bill has an excellent and varied record in government and he will bring a fresh perspective to the city. I look forward to establishing a good working relationship with him in the run up to his taking over the post.

"The standard of the applicants was high, reflecting the unique attraction of our increasingly successful city."

Mr McCarthy lives in Leeds with his wife and five children. Before working at the Department of Health, he worked for West Yorkshire strategic health authority, as director of strategy development. He has also worked for Hertfordshire County Council, and has held a series of senior posts at the Department of Health.

Mr McCarthy will be the first senior manager at City of York Council to enjoy performance-related pay, only moving up the five-grade pay scale if he achieves certain targets.

As previously reported in The Press, the new chief executive is set to benefit from a significant pay increase.

Mr Atkinson has been on a salary of £117,693, but this figure will rise to between £130,000 and £145,000 - an increase of up to £27,300.

A report presented to the council's urgency committee said the council had had to increase the salary in an attempt to attract first-rate applicants.