Former British diplomat named new IPS chair

A former British Ambassador and member of the Queen's Counsel Appointments Panel has been named as the new chair of ILEX Professional Standards (IPS).

Quinton Quayle served as British Ambassador to Romania from 2002 to 2006, and as Ambassador to Thailand from 2007 to 2010. Since retiring from the Diplomatic Service, Quayle has specialised in self-regulation.

He currently sits on the Governing Council of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland (ICAS) and the Regulation Board of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS). Quayle is also a member of the HS2 Exceptional Hardship Panel.

Commenting on his appointment, Quayle said: "I am delighted to be taking up the chair of IPS in June as it moves into an exciting new period in its development. IPS has chalked up some impressive achievements under Alan Kershaw who has chaired the board with distinction over the past seven years.

"I look forward to working with other members of the IPS board, with the IPS executive and with CILEx to build on the good progress that has been made."

Quayle will take up post on 1 June 2015 and oversee the work of IPS as it regulates specialist legal businesses and legal professionals authorised for the new suite of practice rights.

CILEx president Frances Edwards welcomed the appointment: "I am thrilled Quinton will be joining IPS, and I greatly look forward to working with him in his new role. The regulatory landscape has been changing fast in recent years, and CILEx members have been at the forefront of outcomes-focused regulation and a fresh approach to CPD.

"Many more changes are to come, and I have no doubt both CILEx members and IPS will benefit from Quinton's experience and expertise."