A new chief executive is due to take over the reins of Croydon Council following his predecessor's retirement.

Jon Rouse, the chief executive of the Housing Corporation, will replace David Wechsler, who is retiring after 37 years with the council.

A special meeting of the council on Monday night formalised the appointment of the 38 year old - who is one of the youngest people to take a council chief executive post.

Previous to taking up his position at the Housing Corporation, a Government agency funding affordable homes in England, Mr Rouse was chief executive of the Commission for Architecture and Built Environment (CABE).

He also spent five years at the Department for the Environment as a private secretary to the minister for housing and local Government.

The qualified FA referee supports Queen's Park Rangers but has suggested he might come to develop an interest in Crystal Palace.

Mr Rouse and his wife Heulwen live in Wandsworth, where he is vice-chairman and trustee of a local youth charity.

He said: "I am delighted at the prospect of becoming Croydon's next chief executive, and look forward to working closely with elected members, officer colleagues and residents to make the borough an even better place in which to live and work."