Chris Humphries appointed as chief executive of new Commission for Employment and Skills

Chris Humphries has been appointed as chief executive of the new Commission for Employment and Skills.

The move follows nearly seven years as director-general of training awards body City & Guilds.

The commission was a chief recommendation of the Leitch Review. It will start work in April 2008 and replaces many functions of the Sector Skills Development Agency and the National Employment Panel.

In his new role, Humphries will be tasked with securing a highly skilled workforce for the UK, increasing employment levels, and encouraging more people from disadvantaged backgrounds into the workforce. He is expected to take up his new duties full-time in the New Year.

He said: "I am absolutely delighted to be given this opportunity to head up this new and truly ground-breaking organisation. At the same time, I will genuinely miss the excitement and energy of City & Guilds, which is a great organisation, and makes a huge difference to the lives and aspirations of so many people."

Humphries was formerly director-general of the British Chambers of Commerce from 1998-2001 and a founder member of the Learning and Skills Council.

City & Guilds' chairman Michael Howell said: "Chris has been an outstanding ambassador for City & Guilds and is widely recognised as a champion of vocational excellence across the UK."