Los Angeles County supervisors late Tuesday appointed former Los Angeles chief administrative officer William Fujioka as the county’s new chief executive officer, replacing David Janssen, who will retire this month.

The unanimous selection of Fujioka, 54, capped a year-long search. Last February, county supervisors selected Orange County chief executive Tom Mauk for the post. But Mauk changed his mind after receiving a counteroffer from the Orange County Board of Supervisors and remained in that county.

With the search for Janssen’s replacement bogged down, the supervisors extended his contract and gave his position more clout, including the power to hire and fire more department heads.

During his eight years as Los Angeles city administrative officer, Fujioka reported to both the mayor and the City Council. He oversaw the implementation of charter reform and helped lead the city through the budget crunch that followed the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and the cutbacks in state funding. He earned a reputation for being candid about budget issues and other challenges the city faced.

Now as the county’s top official, Fujioka is returning to his old haunts. Prior to his service with the city, he was human resources manager for the county Department of Human Resources and the chief executive officer of the county’s High Desert Hospital.

Fujioka takes office July 23 and will receive an annual salary of $310,000.