07 February 2003
Foster has led the Commission since December 1992, when he moved from being deputy chief executive of the National Health Service.
His well-advertised departure comes at a time of change for the commission and raises questions over the nature of reforms begun by its new chair, James Strachan, appointed at the end of last year.
Paul Kirby, the commission's director of inspection, resigned last September just weeks before local authorities were given the results of their Comprehensive Performance Assessments.
Strachan paid tribute to Foster's work. 'The Audit Commission is an outstanding organisation, and much of this is due to his leadership,' he said. 'His successor has the challenge of maximising our impact on public services.'
Foster said: 'I'm proud of the achievements we have made over the years, including our role in such public audit issues as Westminster, and more recently the role we played in changing the approach to public sector regulation through the CPA.'
PFfeb2003
