Legal Services Board announces new chief executive

The Legal Services Board (LSB) has appointed Richard Moriarty as its new chief executive.

Moriarty will join the LSB from Affinity Water where he is director of regulation. With a career spanning a number of regulated sectors across the economy, Moriarty is set to bring a combination of public and private sector experience to the role of legal regulation.

Immediately prior to Affinity Water, Moriarty was director of economic regulation at the Civil Aviation Authority where he led its review of airport regulation and competition policy, which resulted in a shift towards greater deregulation.

Before this Moriarty was director of policy and market development at the social housing regulator, now the Homes and Communities Agency. He has also held roles of deputy chief executive of the Postal Services Commission and Head of Supply Regulation at Ofgem, the energy regulator.

Commenting on his appointment, Moriarty, said: "I am very pleased and honoured to have the opportunity to lead the LSB at this important time. We all have an interest in a successful legal services market as confidence in it underpins our democracy, economy and a wider public interest. I look forward to working closely with all those that have an interest in our legal sector to ensure it remains admired at home and abroad by delivering for consumers and by being innovative, vibrant and effective."

Chris Kenny, the current LSB chief executive, is set to leave the regulator at the end of November 2014, where he will be joining the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland (MDDUS) as its new chief executive as of January 2015.

Moriarty will join the LSB in early 2015. In the meantime, the regulator's Board has agreed interim arrangements that will see Julie Myers, LSB corporate director, lead on the CEO's accounting officer responsibilities while Caroline Wallace, LSB strategy director, will take on the CEO's regulatory responsibilities.

LSB chair, Sir Michael Pitt, said: "I am delighted that Richard will be joining the LSB. His experience, style and commitment to making the legal services market work well for legal services providers and consumers alike impressed the Board and make him well-placed to lead the LSB as it enters its next phase. I am looking forward to working with him."

John van der Luit-Drummond is legal reporter for Solicitors Journal