The Dunedin City Council has hired an executive from New Plymouth to be the new general manager of services and development.

Simon Pickford will take up the role in early October.

He fills the vacancy left by Sue Bidrose, who became the council's chief executive earlier this year.

Pickford is currently working as manager of executive services at the New Plymouth District Council.

He's originaally from the United Kingdom, and moved to New Zealand in 1998.

Pickford has been working in the local government sector for more than ten years.

Before that he worked at New Plymouth's combined library and museum.