The chief executive of Brighton and Hove City Council has quit his £145,000-a-year post for a new job in Australia.

David Panter, 42, who has run the council for three years, will take over as chief executive of the Central Northern Adelaide Health Service from October 1.

He broke the news of his surprise departure to council colleagues this morning. An emergency meeting of the political group leaders is expected tomorrow.

Mr Panter, who has relatives in Australia, said: "This has not been an easy decision. I have loved Brighton and Hove since I first came here as a student at Sussex University over 20 years ago.

"I can honestly say that the people I have worked alongside, both within the council and across the city, have been a constant inspiration.

"Over the past 15 years or so, Brighton and Hove has transformed itself from two quite separate seaside boroughs into a major UK city.

"I am proud to have played a small part in this and will watch with interest as it becomes a truly European city."

The move to Adelaide marks a return to healthcare administration for Mr Panter.

Before Brighton and Hove, he worked for East London Health Authority, Hillingdon Health Authority and Hillingdon Primary Care Trust.

He raised a few eyebrows on arrival with his four earrings, love of motorbikes and extravagant lifestyle.

But his dedication and experience have been credited with helping balance the city's budget and he has played a key role in raising the city's profile.

Council leader Ken Bodfish said: "We will be sorry to see David go but I fully understand and support his decision. He has been offered a job that would be very hard to refuse.

"What few people know is that in his time here a number of organisations, in both health and local government, have tried to poach him.

"David has always turned them down because he firmly believed the job here was the only one he wanted in this country.

"But the challenge of one of the top jobs in the Australian health service was the one offer he just couldn't turn down."

Mr Panter spent last week in Adelaide, where he told reporters he had always wanted to experience "working in a different culture", having never worked abroad before.

Deputy chief executive Alan McCarthy will take charge at the council until a replacement is appointed.