The Charity Commission has appointed Paul Lathan as its new director of communications and policy.

Lathan will join the regulator from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), where he is director of communications and strategy, and a member of the organisation’s senior leadership team. He has been in that role since 2014.

Prior to this, he was director of communications at the Office of Fair Trading, and has held senior communications roles at the CBI business group and the Strategic Rail Authority. He succeeds Sarah Atkinson, who joined the Social Mobility Foundation as its new chief executive earlier this month.

Commenting on the announcement, the regulator's chief executive, Helen Stephenson said: "I am delighted to welcome Paul to my senior team. Paul was the outstanding candidate, able to demonstrate extensive experience of strategic communications and public service leadership as well as sharp insight into the crucial role effective communications and smart policy play in regulating a diverse – and largely voluntary – charity sector.

"I am confident that Paul will help us deliver on our ambitious strategy, aimed at maximising the benefit charities bring to society."

Latham added: "The charitable sector has never been more vital to our society and its ability to thrive depends not least on effective regulation in the public interest. Strong, independent regulators ensure that wrongdoing is challenged, but moreover that good people and good ideas can flourish. The Charity Commission is a prime example of that.

"In this context, impactful, strategic communications and a clear policy framework are essential, including in ensuring charity trustees can access the information they need to get things right. So I’m excited to be joining the Commission’s leadership team at this time."

Latham is expected to take up his new role in mid-March 2020.

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