Dame Barbara Mills is to take over the chair of the Professional Oversight Board, replacing Sir John Bourn, who earlier this year announced that he will step down from the role after serving more than two full terms.

Dame Barbara's distinguished career includes that of Adjudicator for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs since 1999, her appointment as a Queen's Counsel in 1986, appointed a Department of Trade and Industry Inspector, and her appointment as Director of the Serious Fraud Office.

She has dealt with several financial fraud cases, including high profile cases that involved BCCI and Guinness.

Dame Barbara was also Director of Public Prosecutions from 1992 to 1997.

Commenting on the appointment, Sir Christopher Hogg, FRC Chair, said:
'I am delighted that Dame Barbara has agreed to become the next Chair of the POB. I am confident that her wide and deep experience of public service in general and of the law relating to financial practice in particular will be of great value not only to the POB, but also to the FRC as a whole.'

Sir Christopher also paid tribute to Sir John Bourn.

'John has made a huge contribution to the FRC and the POB through a period of substantial change for both and, on behalf of the Board, I want to express our great appreciation. I am also grateful that during an especially busy time for the POB he agreed to stay on beyond the expiry of his last term until his successor had been chosen and could take office. We are fortunate that he will continue as an adviser to the FRC,' he said.

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