The City of White Rock has announced who will take the reigns as leader of planning and development services.

Karen Cooper will take over the position of director – previously held by Paul Stanton – starting April 9, overseeing development and bylaw enforcement in the seaside city.

Cooper brings 20 years of management experience to the position and has previously served as the board manager for the David Suzuki Foundation, among other positions.

“We are pleased to have Karen join our team and know that her breadth of experience will prove valuable for the city of White Rock,” said chief administrative officer Dan Bottrill in a news release Wednesday.

The decision to find a new director of planning and development was announced earlier this year, with Bottrill stating the city was planning to head into a “new direction.”

Stanton had served in the position for five years, after taking over from Stephen Richardson in 2008.