Premier Steven Marshall announced on Friday that Ashby had been replaced as Primary Industries and Regions SA chief executive ahead of his contract expiring next month.

The Onkaparinga Council announced this morning that it had appointed Ashby as its new CEO “following a rigorous recruitment process attracting an impressive field of quality candidates”.

It comes after the state’s Ombudsman found the council’s former chief Mark Dowd committed misconduct when he accepted a free trip to Brisbane to attend a conference.

Mayor Erin Thompson said Ashby’s “strong integrity, genuine enthusiasm and compelling vision for the city” won him the role.

She said his appointment heralded a “new era for the City of Onkaparinga”.

“He brings deep governance skills to the role and will support the introduction of further transparent processes and probity into the organisation,” she said.

Ashby said he looked forward to building “transparent and trusted leadership and good governance at all levels”.

He has previously held the positions of chief executive at the former Department for Water and Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation.

Ashby will commence as CEO on April 27.