Rick Haythornthwaite, former chief executive of the engineering group Invensys, has been appointed to head up the government body charged with tackling red tape and excessive regulation.
Haythornthwaite will take up the post as chairman of the Better Regulation Commission in January when Sir David Arculus, chairman of the mobile phone group O2, steps down.
The government has also announced the appointment of William Sargent, the former chairman of the Small Business Council, as executive chairman of its Better Regulation Executive, which actually implements the drive against red tape.
His job will be to deliver on the recommendations set out in the Arculus and Hampton reviews which recommended a 20% cut in the regulatory cost burden on business.
Haythornthwaite will provide independent advice and monitor the government’s performance in delivering the improvements it has pledged.
Both men have been appointed for three -years.
