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As Director, Louise will join the Board for Actuarial Standards to lead its challenging programme of transition - from Guidance Notes adopted in 2006 to the new Technical Actuarial Standards issued by the BAS.

An exposure draft of the first of these, on Reporting Actuarial Information, was issued in April. Pryor will also become a member of the FRC's senior management team.

She has been a project director of the BAS since May 2007 and was responsible for the recent discussion paper on actuarial mortality assumptions.

She qualified as a fellow of the Institute of Actuaries in 1987 and has been involved in financial modelling and risk management for over 25 years, as a university lecturer, a software developer and consultant, and a consulting actuary in both life and general insurance.

Pryor has contributed to and chaired Actuarial Profession working parties on many topics, including operational risk, professionalism, and software use.

Sir Christopher Hogg, chairman of the FRC, called it encouraging that the organisation had such a long list of good candidates, both external and internal, for this important position.

“The BAS nomination panel presented a short list of three to the FRC Board, and I am delighted to confirm Louise's appointment,” he added.

Paul Seymour, chair of the BAS, explained that the BAS has a demanding remit and a very active programme. In the last two months it has issued four papers.

“I am confident that, under Louise's leadership, we will maintain the momentum that has been established. On behalf of the board, I take this opportunity to thank board member Harold Clarke for his vital contribution as interim director since January," he added.

The Financial Reporting Council (FRC) is the UK's independent regulator responsible for promoting confidence in corporate reporting and governance.

The FRC's functions are exercised principally by its operating bodies (the Accounting Standards Board, the Auditing Practices Board, the Board for Actuarial Standards, the Financial Reporting Review Panel, the Professional Oversight Board and the Accountancy and Actuarial Discipline Board) and by the FRC Board.

The Committee on Corporate Governance assists the board in its work on corporate governance.

The Board for Actuarial Standards has a primary objective of promoting high quality actuarial practice by establishing and improving actuarial technical standards and ensuring that they are coherent, consistent and comprehensive.

Related links

• Financial Reporting Council