Dubbo Regional Council (DRC) CEO Murray Wood will head east in December, following his appointment as the new general manager of the City of Coffs Harbour Council.

Mr Wood was appointed at an extraordinary meeting of the Coffs council held on the evening of Monday, August 25, and will start in his new role on December 8, the council announced on its website.

Mr Wood replaces Natalia Cowley, who left City of Coffs Harbour Council in January and was appointed general manager of Moree Shire Council in May. Andrew Beswick has been acting in the role since her departure.

In a statement, Mr Wood said it was a tough decision to leave Dubbo, and his new job at City of Coffs Harbour Council was a challenge for his career.

“It’s a different challenge in a community that I will be learning about, and I am really thankful for the faith they have shown in me to award me that position.”

Mr Wood has worked with three elected bodies during his time at council, with three mayors in the role.

“I want to thank the mayors and the elected bodies for the initial opportunity in this role, but also the way we have worked together with them, senior staff and all staff, having a strong trust and focus on community outcomes,” Mr Wood said.

Dubbo mayor Josh Black said the news has been a surprise, but it was a great career opportunity for Mr Wood.

“Murray will be a big loss to this organisation. It is under his leadership that council has delivered for our community over the past four years,” Cr Black said.

“We wish him all the best as he wraps things up here over the next five months and we will work on a transition plan over coming months.

Mr Wood has held senior roles with DRC from 2003 to 2018, including as director of community and recreation, before moving into a role with the NSW Government as director of industry development within the Department of Regional NSW. He returned to DRC in 2021 as interim CEO, and was appointed to the role of CEO in mid-2023.

“Dubbo has been incredibly rewarding for my professional career and the opportunities it has given to my family as well," Mr Wood said.

“We moved to Dubbo for the work-life balance. I wanted to expand my professional career but in a way that wasn’t going to harm my family life, and as a Sydney boy I didn’t realise how well you could get that work-life balance in a regional centre like Dubbo."

As he makes the move to City of Coffs Harbour Council, Mr Wood said it was the culture and kindness of the people at DRC that he would miss the most.

“We want to help other people; we want to do a great job. Within council in our areas of expertise our people want to be the best and show the nation that Dubbo can lead the way in several different areas."

Over the coming months a transition plan will be put into place within the organisation until a new CEO is appointed at DRC.

Dubbo's loss is Coffs Harbour's gain, with mayor Nikki Williams welcoming Mr Wood's appointment to the role.

“For me, this was never just about finding someone to manage the organisation. It was about finding the right person for this city and for our team,” mayor Williams said.

“Coffs Harbour is growing fast and with that comes both opportunities and challenges. We need strong and thoughtful leadership to guide us through that growth, and I believe Murray is the right person to help us take those next steps,” she added.

Mr Wood said he was looking forward to listening and learning about the community.

“I understand the importance of the role. I bring a passion for regional NSW,” he said.

“I appreciate the faith given in me by the elected body.”