David Smol has been appointed as the first chief executive of the new Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), it has been announced by the State Services Commissioner Iain Rennie.

Smol (pictured right) has been acting chief executive of the super ministry since April this year and prior to that he was the chief executive of the former Ministry of Economic Development. His new contract runs until June 2017.

The Government established MBIE on 1 July 2012, bringing together all the existing functions of the former Ministry of Economic Development, Ministry of Science and Innovation, Department of Labour and Department of Building and Housing.

The Commissioner says that Smol has the skills and experience to “step up” to successfully lead the transformational change required in MBIE.

Smol will lead approximately 3,500 staff located in offices throughout New Zealand and overseas. MBIE has an annual expenditure of around $660 million and administers non-departmental appropriations of $4 billion.