A deputy High Court judge has been appointed as interim chair of the Charity Commission, while it looks for a permanent replacement for Baroness Stowell.

Stowell stepped down from the role last month after deciding not to seek a second term. While the regulator looks for a permanent chair it has appointed its board member Ian Karet to the role on a temporary basis.

Karet joined the board in 2019 and is a solicitor specialising in intellectual property and technology. He also sits part time as a deputy High Court judge and is a member of the Civil Justice Council.

He has also been a trustee of the Royal Botanical Gardens and on the board of the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property.

As interim chair he will receive £37,500 a year.

Former Conservative minister Stowell’s tenure as Charity Commission chair was marked by a number of high profile controversial comments she made.

This included urging charity leaders to “leave party politics” and “culture wars” out of their work.

She was also accused of “launching an attack on lefty lawyers” and came under criticism from charity leaders and MPs for her suitability in the role.

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