Appointment of Chief Executive Serious Fraud Office

25 September 2007

The State Services Commissioner, Mark Prebble, announced today the appointment of Mr (William) Grant Liddell as Chief Executive and Director of the Serious Fraud Office.

Mr Liddell is currently Acting Deputy Solicitor-General at the Crown Law Office. He has been at Crown Law since 1996, and has led teams in the public law group since 2002.

"Grant Liddell has the relevant leadership and management experience gained at the Crown Law Office. He has a strong background in civil litigation for the Crown. He also has the public law and professional legal expertise as an advisor to government to manage and lead business as usual in the Serious Fraud Office while it continues in operation.

“This is a difficult period of change for the Serious Fraud Office and its staff. Grant will be a capable leader to provide support and direction through the transition. He has successfully managed relationships with a wide range of agencies and will provide good leadership in interdepartmental work which will be critical at this time,” Mark Prebble said.

Before joining Crown Law, Mr Liddell taught law at the University of Otago. Mr Liddell was admitted as Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand in 1983, and has also qualified as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales. Mr Liddell has a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of Commerce and Administration. He was appointed to the Legislation Advisory Committee in 2002.

“Mr Liddell currently has accountability in Crown Law for a large number of core clients, including many of the larger Public Service Departments. He is a successful litigator and I am confident that he has the intellectual capability and ability to provide leadership to the Serious Fraud Office,” Mark Prebble said.

Mr Liddell will take up the position on 5 November 2007.

ENDS

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