The previous CEO, Justine Linley, was fired after an ombudsman's report was released which outlined concerns over recruitment, procurement and purchase card use at the council.

An acting CEO, Neville Ivey, has been appointed until the interim CEO is hired.

FROM LAST NIGHT: Ombudsman's Report: Recruitment agency selected in search for interim CEO

At a council meeting on Wednesday night, a motion was passed selecting Sal Corp.

The job ad on the Sal Corp website notes the position would last from six to nine months "to assist them in their quest to change the culture and improve the organisation's practices, especially in regard to issues highlighted recently by the Victoria(n) Ombudsman report".

"(Council) went to an expression of interest to the marketplace, we received six agencies responding back, and out of those six, we reviewed them and chose Sal Corp," he told the media on Thursday.

"They all had experienced CEO candidates already on the books that were available - that's what we're looking at as part of the interim (job), is going through looking for an experienced CEO and someone who's available.

"We looked at (the agency's) qualifications, experience in the marketplace, as well as ... the cost."

He said he expected interviews for candidates could begin next week - all nine councillors will be part of the interview panel.

The ombudsman's report laid bare allegations regarding hiring practices at the council and a mistrust among staff, which Cr Taylor said he hoped the new interim CEO would help change the culture and restore confidence from the community.

"We want to make sure we are doing this right - the (ombudsman's) report is about recruitment, so we wanted to ensure we are doing the right thing in that regard, and we did that last night in selecting an agency," he said.

"This is really the start, we had to make those tough decisions last week in relation to the ombudsman's report, now we're looking at the interim CEO, getting someone in to work with us.

"We'd like the interim CEO to work with us to go through that report and look at the organisation, look at a health check in relation to the culture of the organisation as well, then provide that stability."

The interim CEO has the option of investigating appointments mentioned in the report, remuneration for council officers, Cr Taylor said - the Sal Corp job ad states the candidate will "review the organisation's culture, and then deliver a program that maintains a healthy vibrant workforce, which are recruited, developed and managed effectively and positively".

Following the council elections in October, the new council would then begin the process of appointing a full-time CEO - Cr Taylor said it was "inappropriate" for the current council to hire a full-time permanent CEO.

"That new council will be taking that responsibility on to select a CEO to work with them for their four year plan," he said.

"That process does take time, it could take three to four months to find a full time CEO."

Cr Taylor also said he "absolutely" had confidence in Mr Ivey as interim CEO - he was appointed by Ms Linley when she went on leave following the report's release.

"That's part of the role - when the CEO goes on leave, then someone internal is appointed to the acting role," he said.

"We've got to be straight down the line, it's defined by the local government act, this is what happens when a CEO goes on leave - it's not council's space to step in and intervene in that area.

"(Mr Ivey) is doing a good job, but to provide some real assurance to the community and provide that arm's length, we've gone down this path for an interim CEO."

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