Paula Sussex, senior vice president, public sector of CGI, has been appointed the new chief executive of the Charity Commission.

Sussex will take up the appointment on the 30th June on a three-year contract. She will be paid an annual salary of £125,000 plus pension contributions.

She has a longstanding association with Crisis, the charity for single homeless people, where she was a trustee for six years. She left the role in 2009.

Commenting on Sussex's appointment, Leslie Morphy, chief executive of Crisis, said she was pleased that the Commission had appointed someone who understood the importance of "campaigning in the charity sector as well as some of the difficulties of providing services to the most disadvantaged members of our communities". 

Sussex is a qualified barrister and has held a number of consulting roles, including with Atos Consulting and KPMG Consulting.

Sussex said: “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead the Charity Commission, which has a key role in maintaining public trust and confidence in charity through effective regulation.  I believe firmly in the vital role of charities in our society and their power to do good, and I want to play my part by building the Commission into a proactive, efficient regulator of charity.

 “I don’t underestimate the challenge of change but I know there are significant strengths to build on, including the expertise and commitment of the Commission staff, and the widespread support for the role and purpose of the independent charity regulator.”

Current chief executive Sam Younger steps down after four years in the post, but will remain for a short handover period.