Tourism Dunedin chairman Murray Walker confirmed Mr Saxton had been appointed to the role, a position he has filled temporarily following the resignation of former chief executive Jan Hindson in April.
"I am delighted he has accepted the position, and this is another step forward for Tourism Dunedin and the city in general," Mr Walker said.
While studying at the University of Otago, Mr Saxton (38) began working as a part-time information officer at the Dunedin Visitor Centre, "where I developed a taste for tourism - and that is when I saw the potential of Dunedin," he said.
After several stints with tourism operators in New Zealand and Australia, Mr Saxton returned to Dunedin in 2001 to work as marketing manager on Tourism Dunedin's Project Gateway.
In 2006, Tourism Dunedin became the first regional tourism organisation to have a management-level staff member in Australia, when Mr Saxton was chosen to market the city to Australians.
"I love Dunedin, so returning here is really exciting for me," Mr Saxton said.
He said tourism would become an increasingly important part of the Dunedin economy and "we are in an extraordinary position to achieve more".
"The challenge facing Tourism Dunedin, and the city, is getting visitors to spend more and stay longer," he said.
