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The Prime Minister has approved the appointment of Clasper following an open recruitment process and with the agreement of the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

His role will be to strengthen HMRC's corporate governance and to provide oversight to the Executive Committee and Departmental Board. In addition, he will play a key role for HMRC by engaging with the Department's many stakeholders.

He will take up the post on 1 August 2008, and will be involved in the selection of HMRC's first chief executive.

Alistair Darling, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, said, "Appointing someone of Mike's calibre and experience is particularly important at this point in HMRC's development. Mike will bring the leadership and vision needed to deliver on HMRC's goals of providing an enhanced service to all of its customers across the UK."

Gus O'Donnell, the Cabinet Secretary, said, "I welcome Mike Clasper to this key role at the heart of Whitehall. It is terrific to bring him into Government and I look forward to working with him very closely."

Clasper will take up the post on 1 August 2008, working three days a week. He joins HMRC from Terra Firma Capital Partners Ltd where he was the operational managing director. He was formerly chief executive of BAA plc until July 2006.

Born in Sunderland, Clasper began his working life as a British Rail signalling engineer before joining Procter & Gamble in 1978. He progressed quickly to a series of senior management positions, when he left in 2001 he was president, global home care and new business development. From Procter & Gamble he moved to the airport operator BAA.

Clasper is a non-executive director at ITV plc and chair of the West London Consortium, a cross sector body aimed at improving employment and skills services to residents and employers. He was a founder member of the Corporate Leaders Group on Climate Change.

Clasper said that HMRC plays a vital and unique role in the life of our country, its work touching every individual and business.

“I want to see HMRC in the vanguard of public service delivery, providing a top quality and reliable experience for all of its users. That is what those who work in HMRC want and I'm determined that working together we will achieve that goal,” he concluded.

Related links

• HM Revenue & Customs