Senior City barrister David Green QC, the former director of the Revenue and Customs Prosecutions Office (RCPO), has been appointed as the next director of the Serious Fraud Office (SFO).

The appointment was announced today by Attorney General Dominic Grieve QC (pictured), with Green to take up the appointment when current director Richard Alderman steps down in April 2012. The appointment, which follows an open competition, is for four years.

Green has prosecuted and defended serious crime cases over a 25 year career at the Bar. He was called to the Bar in 1979 and took silk in 2000. He was appointed the first director of the RCPO in 2005 when the department was established. When RCPO was merged with the CPS in January 2010 Green stayed on as director of the CPS Central Fraud Group, heading it until April 2011. He then returned to private practice in the chambers of David Perry QC and David Fisher QC at 6 King's Bench Walk, Temple.

The Attorney General's office used consultants Odgers Berndtson to handle the appointment after advertising the post in October. As reported by Legal Week (14 October), the body drew up a shortlist of potential candidates for the role that included: Dechert litigation partner Neil Gerrard; Sullivan & Cromwell counsel Louise Delahunty; former White & Case partner Margaret Cole, now director of enforcement at the Financial Services Authority (FSA); Stephenson Harwood litigation partner Tony Woodcock; Ken MacDonald QC of Matrix Chambers; FSA chief criminal counsel David Kirk; Helen Garlick of 18 Red Lion Court; and Crown Prosecution Service central fraud chief Sue Patten.

The new director had been expected to be brought in at a lower salary, with Alderman's current £160,000 per year reduced by around 25% to around £120,000. However; according to reports in the FT, Green could earn as much as £170,000.

Grieve said: "I would also like to pay tribute to Richard Alderman. The SFO has been transformed under his leadership, becoming more effective, proactive and pragmatic. Richard has also pursued positive engagement both domestically and internationally and leaves the organisation more influential and outward facing."

Former SFO prosecutor and of counsel at Skadden Arps Slate Meagher & Flom Matthew Cowie commented: "I very much welcome this appointment. David Green is a fantastic prosecutor and has significant experience of working in government which should serve him well in this very demanding role. He is well-regarded and particularly well-known for his work at HMRC."

Robert Amaee, of counsel at the London office of Covington & Burling and former anti-corruption head at the SFO, added: "I view this as a positive announcement. The incoming director has said that the SFO is here to stay and that he expects it to play a leading role in tackling serious economic crime. He is a seasoned barrister with a strong track record of both defending and prosecuting cases of serious economic crime. He has the credentials and connections to build on the notable successes that Richard Alderman has achieved during his tenure."

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