Baroness Buscombe said: "We interviewed a shortlist of four excellent candidates, but we were unanimous in concluding that Stephen has the breadth of experience and ideas for the future to make him the right person to succeed Tim Toulmin as Director of the PCC. I am very pleased that he has agreed to take on the position, and look forward to continue working with him".
Stephen Abell (pictured) said: "I very much look forward to the challenge of being Director of the PCC. I think that the Commission performs a vital service in helping people, and I am proud to be responsible for developing its reach and role in the future".
Tim Toulmin said: "Stephen has been an outstanding and imaginative deputy who will make a superb director. I am delighted that he will succeed me".
A shortlist of four candidates was interviewed by a sub-committee of the Press Complaints Commission, which comprised: Baroness Buscombe (Chairman); Bishop John Waine; Matti Alderson; John McLellan (Editor, The Scotsman). Interviews followed the publication of advertisements in the national press. The appointment was officially made at a meeting of the full PCC that took place on 4th November 2009.
Stephen Abell will take up the post on 19th December 2009. He started work at the PCC in September 2001 having joined the Commission as a graduate from Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where he read English.
