A new Chairman and two non-executive members have taken up their positions on the Board of Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS).

Announcing the appointments, Peter Handcock, HMCTS Chief Executive said:

'Our new Board Chairman and members bring a wealth of expertise and experience to HMCTS and will work to ensure that we achieve our aims of delivering an efficient and effective justice system.'

The Board is responsible for overseeing the leadership and direction of HMCTS in delivering the aims and objectives set by the Lord Chancellor, the Lord Chief Justice and the Senior President of Tribunals.

The new Chairman and non-executive board members are:

Bob Ayling (Chairman). Bob is currently Chairman of Welsh Water, Dyson Ltd and Chairman of the International Dispute Resolution Centre Ltd. He is a solicitor by profession, with 20 years' practice in the City and as a senior government legal advisor at the Department of Trade and Industry. He was Managing Director and Chief Executive of British Airways plc from 1993 to 2000.

Francis Dobbyn. Francis has been a non-Executive Director of the Tribunals Service since 2006 and an Audit Chair of the Ministry of Justice's Access to Justice Directorate since 2009. He currently runs his own consultancy and interim management business. Previously he had a varied career in Shell UK, culminating in the role of Financial Director.

Alison White. Alison is a qualified Chartered Management Accountant and experienced Chief Executive, most recently for the General Dental Council. Prior to this, she worked for 25 years for the Royal Mail starting as a counter clerk and leaving as the director of one of its national businesses, with responsibility for more than half its revenue.

Notes for editors

Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) was launched on 1 April 2011. It brings together Her Majesty's Courts Service and the Tribunals Service into one integrated agency providing support for the administration of justice in courts and tribunals.

1. The new agency is responsible for the administration of the criminal, civil and family courts and tribunals in England and Wales and non-devolved tribunals in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
2. Framework document for HMCTS.
3. The Chair has been appointed until June 2015. There is no option to renew. The two non-executive directors are both appointed until April 2014 with an option for an extension of three years.