Solicitor put forward as next Information Commissioner

Solicitor Daren Fitzhenry has been recommended for appointment as the next Scottish Information Commissioner.

Following an open recruitment process, the Scottish Parliament will be invited this coming Tuesday (27 June) to nominate Mr Fitzhenry to the Queen for his official appointment.

Currently a senior legal officer in the RAF Legal Branch, Mr Fitzhenry heads its legal advisory team. A LLM graduate of the University of Glasgow, he has worked as a solicitor in private practice and public service, joining the RAF in 2000. His experience in the development, implementation and application of regulatory systems, legislation and international arrangements is extensive, and his wide portfolio of legal practice has included the application of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 regime, with which he has been familiar since its inception.

As a member of operational and strategic level boards and committees he has also been involved in the formulation and execution of major change programmes, both in the UK and abroad.

Mr Fitzhenry is set to succeed Rosemary Agnew, who is now the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman. The Information Commissioner position is for a fixed term of six years and attracts a salary of £73,000.