The new Property Ombudsman has been announced.
Today, she is named as Katrine Sporle, who takes over from Christopher Hamer whose nine-year term ends on November 30.
Sporle, 61, has an outstanding track record as a very big hitter.
She was the chief executive of the Planning Inspectorate for England and Wales between 2003 and 2011, responsible for 1,000 members of staff and a £60m budget, and was directly answerable to Parliament.
Before that, she was chief executive of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council for eight years, controlling an overall budget of some £58m.
She is currently executive director and chapter clerk at Salisbury Cathedral, the most senior lay leader at the 750-year-old cathedral.
The Property Ombudsman’s offices are in the same Wiltshire city.
Sporle, who lives in Hampshire, was awarded the CBE in December 2010 for outstanding public service.
Lord Richard Best OBE, chairman of the TPO Council since 2009, said: “Selecting our Ombudsman is a key responsibility of the independent TPO Council and we are truly delighted to have secured someone with the breadth and depth of experience – at local and national levels – which Katrine brings to this role.
“Christopher Hamer is a very hard act to follow but I am confident we have found a great successor.
“I know all TPO’s members and well-wishers will join me in extending the warmest of welcomes to Katrine when she starts in November.”
Bill McClintock, board chairman of The Property Ombudsman Scheme, said: “I welcome Katrine Sporle as the new ombudsman and endorse Lord Best’s comments.
“I believe her broad employment background will be a huge benefit in performing her new role.”
It is not known what Hamer will do next, but it is understood that his own outstanding skills may be utilised by government departments.
Welcome to the housing market Katrine. Good luck.
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Nice to some more ladies getting involved at the top – time for other industries to play catch-up?
Nice to meet your, Katrine – heck of a CV!
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Yes i echo the sentiments that it is good for our industry being an equal opportunity employer.
However i would have expected such a high profile role at Property Ombudsman to have been filled by an individual with actual agency experience.
We have many wonderful men and women in the industry from independents to corporate. Surely there was a candidate which could have ticked that criteria?
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Should she now be addressed as an Ombudsperson one feels compelled to ask!?
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