The Orange County Board of Supervisors unanimously chose Frank Kim Tuesday as CEO, a job he’s been holding for most of this year on an interim basis.
Kim has been in charge since Mike Giancola had back surgery. Last month, Giancola announced he wanted to retire after nearly two years as CEO.
Mark Denny, the county’s chief operating officer, was supposed to fill in for Giancola during his medical leave, but questions were raised about contracts approved while he headed OC Parks. Kim took over instead.
Kim, who was praised for his financial stewardship as budget director during the Great Recession, was previously the county’s chief financial officer.
“A few weeks ago, our county executive officer, Mike Giancola, announced his decision to retire after 32 years of service to the county,” board Chairman Todd Spitzer said. “Since learning of Mike’s decision to retire, the board was fortunate in that we did not need to look far to find an outstanding replacement. This is a testament to the county’s commitment to developing more robust succession planning and to creating opportunities for internal advancement.”
The board is scheduled to ratify Kim’s employment contract and formally release Giancola from his contract at its next meeting on May 12, according to Spitzer.
” … Mr. Giancola will be able to retire from his county employment with the board’s sincere gratitude for a job well done,” Spitzer said. “Next Tuesday, we will acknowledge Mike’s incredible service to the county, and an evening reception in Mike’s honor is now being planned.”
Giancola literally worked his way up from the bottom as a parks groundskeeper to take the county’s top post in May 2013 for Tom Mauk, who was pushed out following the sex scandal involving former top county executive Carlos Bustamante.
Prior to being CEO, Giancola was the county’s waste chief and had been with OC Waste and Recycling since 1988.
— City News Service