Next Commissioner for Standards in Public Life named

Caroline Anderson is to be put forward as the new Commissioner for Ethical Standards in Public Life in Scotland.

A motion to agree Ms Anderson’s appointment will be considered by the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday 29 January. She would succeed Bill Thompson, who demits office on 31 March 2019, in the full time role, which is for a single term of five years with a salary of £73,000 per annum.

The Commissioner is responsible for investigating complaints about the conduct of MSPs, local authority councillors, members of public bodies and lobbyists, and for regulating how people are appointed to the boards of public bodies in Scotland.

Ms Anderson is a chartered accountant with over 20 years of specialist experience in regulation and compliance, gained mainly within professional services environments, with senior executive roles in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. Her ministerial appointments include as chair of the Audit & Risk Committee of the Disclosure and Barring Service, and member of the Competition & Appeals Tribunal. She has also served on the Disciplinary Tribunal of Chartered Accountants Ireland and with the Society of Actuaries in Ireland.