The Chief Executive of the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) has announced that he will stand down later this year after 7 years in the post.
Antony Townsend, who has been in the role ever since the inception of the SRA, thanked his colleagues, who he described as exceptional and the present and past board members.
He said: “The SRA now has a firm basis upon which to develop and mature its new approach to regulation. I have concluded that after seven years it is a good time for me to move on, so I will leave once my successor has been appointed.”
Leading the tribute to his contribution to the SRA was chair of the board Charles Plant. He said: “Antony inherited a regulatory organisation and regime in serious need of reform. Much has been achieved by the SRA under Antony’s leadership over the past seven years.
“The board places on record its considerable gratitude to Antony for the dedication and skill with which he has led the SRA in challenging times, and for the success which has been achieved”.
There was also tributes from the president of The Law Society, Lucy Scott-Moncrieff who said: “Antony Townsend has been with the SRA from the start, and has worked tirelessly and selflessly to create a modern regulator for solicitors.
“He can take credit for many developments at the SRA and never wavered from his robust commitment to establishing it as a public interest regulator. We wish him well in his future career.”
Attention will now turn to who his successor will be, especially in the current climate of change that the personal injury industry is currently going through thanks to government reform.
Image source(s)
1. Solicitors Regulation Authority; https://www.sra.org.uk/home/home.page