New chief announced for Serious Fraud Office

Former senior Met Police officer Nick Ephgrave will take up the role at the end of September.

Nick Ephgrave has been appointed as director of the Serious Fraud Office (Archive/PA) (PA Archive)

The Serious Fraud Office’s new chief will be a former top Metropolitan Police officer.

Nick Ephgrave will take up the role of director of the SFO at the end of September, Attorney General Victoria Prentis told MPs.

He replaces Lisa Osofsky, who has been the head of the organisation since 2018.

Mr Ephgrave is a former assistant commissioner at Scotland Yard and was chief constable in Surrey before that.

Nick’s years of experience as a leader in law enforcement and across the wider criminal justice system make him the ideal candidate to drive the SFO forward in it continuing its fight against economic crime

Victoria Prentis

He had been tipped as a potential Met Police commissioner following the resignation of Dame Cressida Dick.

The Attorney General said: “Nick’s years of experience as a leader in law enforcement and across the wider criminal justice system make him the ideal candidate to drive the SFO forward in it continuing its fight against economic crime.”

Mr Ephgrave said: “I am honoured to be the next director of the SFO.

“The SFO plays a unique and pivotal role in the UK’s response to economic crime.

“I look forward to building on its recent successes and driving forward work to deliver long-lasting improvements to its operations”.