BARRY Omundson has been announced as the new CEO of the Whitsunday Regional Council.

Whitsunday Mayor, Andrew Willcox welcomed Mr Omundson this morning at a special meeting in the Bowen council chambers.

"We've gone to a lot of effort to find the right person," he said.

"We've trawled the whole country to find the best CEO because that's what the community deserves and that's what we've got."

Mr Omundson, who was previously acting in the role, said he felt 'reinvigorated' to be given the job permanently and to be contracted in for five years.

"It's a very special position, I'm really excited," he said.

Passionate about leadership and the community, Mr Omundson said he was focused on bringing leadership to the organisation.

"My view is that you get things done through people, not systems and not processes so my focus will be on people," he said.

"I want to re-link, repair and rebuild some of the relationships that we have in our community with business leaders and various groups within the community and wider state and federal governments in regards to the new leadership in the Whitsundays."

Formerly a CEO of Mackay Regional Council, Mr Omundson was appointed acting CEO of the Whitsunday Regional Council in September 2015 after former CEO Scott Waters moved aside from his position to focus on developing the Whitsunday Coast Airport.

Mayor Willcox said the nationwide hunt for the new CEO was an incredibly vigorous process.

"There were no favours and there was no stone unturned- we wanted the best," he said.

"We had 37 applicants, we had four phone interviews then three face-to-face interviews with high calibre people who could all be capable but Barry was a stand-out."

Mayor Willcox said Mr Omundson was a cultural change agent who had brought a 'breath of fresh air' to the organisation.

"When he came into the organisation we were struggling," he said.

"He's come about, he's had the appropriate meetings with our leadership team, he's brought a cultural change agent in which we've done seminars and workshops with that have been very well received.

"You can see the results, you can feel it in the workplace."