UK: The new chair of the Financial Reporting Council (ARGA)

The Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy has today announced that Simon Dingemans is to become the new chair of the Financial Reporting Council and its successor organisation (the Audit, Reporting and Governance Authority): see here. Mr Dingemans will replace Sir Winfried Bischoff.

Mr Dingemans' appointment was subject to a pre-appointment hearing before the BEIS Committee in Parliament several days ago: see here. The Committee's report was published yesterday: see here. The Committee endorsed Mr Dingemans' appointment but noted its concern that he had "not fully appreciated the scale of the challenge ahead, and the degree of commitment required for an organisation in need of root-and-branch reform". The Committee also recommended that he should not take on any additional roles that could be perceived to compromise his independence.

NB: The Secretary of State at the BEIS Department announced, in a speech several days ago, that the new chief executive of the FRC/ARGA will be Sir Jonathan Thompson: see here.