15th May 2009
By Vivienne Russell
Local government mandarin Neil Kinghan is to take over at the top of the Equalities and Human Rights Commission following the departure of chief executive Nicola Brewer.
Kinghan, former director general for equalities at the Department for Communities and Local Government, will serve as interim director general for the next six months. He played a major role in overseeing the new body’s transition from three legacy organisations.
Before that he was director general for local and regional government at the DCLG.
The commission recently experienced a series of high-profile departures, including Brewer’s. And former Disability Rights Commission chair Sir Bert Massie has voiced concerns about the direction the commission was taking.
Kinghan said: ‘I have every intention of making the most of the short time I’m here.’
Commission chair Trevor Phillips said: ‘We’re delighted to welcome Neil at an exciting time for the commission, as we are poised to launch our three-year strategy and anticipate the implementation of an Equality Bill that will help us to work towards a fairer Britain.’
