Former Charity Commission and Student Loans Company chief executive officer Paula Sussex has won the backing of MPs for her bid to become parliamentary and health service ombudsman.
Members of parliament’s Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Select Committee gave their approval to Sussex’s appointment following a hearing that took place last week.
The last permanent parliamentary and health service ombudsman was Rob Behrens, who served in the complaints-handling role for seven years until the end of March last year.
PHSO chief executive Rebecca Hilsenrath acted as interim ombudsman from April last year until the end of March this year, but has now returned to her main duties and the ombudsman post is vacant.
In a follow-up report to 23 April’s pre-appointment hearing, members of PACAC said they were satisfied Sussex has the “personal independence and professional skills necessary” to fulfil the high-profile and demanding role.
“Paula Sussex is an excellent candidate with a track record of organisational transformation, with a focus on improving the effectiveness and external reputations of the organisations she has led," MPs said.
“Her professional background and experience as chief executive will aid her in giving the PHSO direction and certainty. We wish her every success in this role.”
Sussex began her career in the private sector and worked for consultancies including KPMG and Atos. In the 1990s, she worked on secondment to the Hong Kong Government while employed by accounting and consulting firm Coopers and Lybrand.
She served as chief executive officer of the Charity Commission for England and Wales from 2014 to 2017 and was chief exec of the Student Loans Company from 2018 to 2022.
Since 2023, she has been chief exec of financial-technology start-up OneID.
The role of parliamentary and health service ombudsman was advertised with a salary of £171,500-£189,900 a year.