The SRA has hired a leading figure from the Legal Services Board to become its new executive director.

Crispin Passmore will leave his position as strategy director for the LSB to join the solicitors’ regulator on 6 January 2014.

Passmore, who has previously worked for the Legal Services Commission and as chief executive of the Coventry Law Centre, will focus on policy reform and education training.

He said: ‘This is an exciting time to be joining the SRA. Enormous progress has been made in recent years towards modernising regulation.

‘I look forward to helping the SRA meet the significant challenges ahead so that the legal market can continue to innovate, and provide choice and value for money for consumers.’

Passmore’s arrival comes at a time of significant management overhaul at the SRA. Chief executive Antony Townsend will be replaced by Paul Philip in January and Samantha Barrass will leave in February to become chief executive of the Financial Services Commission of Gibraltar.

Townsend added: ‘His expertise will strengthen our senior management team at a time of transition, and we look forward to working with him.’