Department of Trade, Tourism and Investment chief Mike Hnyda has told the government he will retire when his current contract expires this month.

Hnyda was headhunted from Wales in 2015 by former Trade Minister Martin Hamilton-Smith to oversee the state’s Investment Attraction agency, but was kept on by the Liberal administration to head up the rebadged department.

His retirement precedes a likely revamp of the agency, after the Government last year contracted former New Zealand Finance Minister Steven Joyce to review its operations.

A Government spokesman said Joyce’s report would be released “soon”.

Hnyda said in a statement today it had been “an honour and privilege to represent and promote South Australia”.

“I have enjoyed every minute of the role and I am so proud to have brought projects such as Technicolor, Sonnen, Boeing, Datacom and Veroguard to invest here,” he said.

Premier Steven Marshall said Hnyda “has served in this important role with distinction and on behalf of the State Government I’d like to thank him for his efforts in attracting greater investment to SA”.

“We wish him all the best in retirement,” he said.

Hnyda’s exit marks the sixth chief executive to depart since last year’s state election.

Don Russell, Michael Deegan, Ingrid Haythorpe and Sandy Pitcher were all sacked by the incoming government, while Health boss Vickie Kaminski stood aside.

Department of the Premier and Cabinet CEO Jim McDowell will take over as interim head of Trade, Tourism and Investment until a permanent replacement is appointed.

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