National Assembly nominates new Auditor General for Wales

13 July 2010

The National Assembly for Wales has today (13 July) approved the nomination of Huw Vaughan Thomas to the Queen for appointment as the new Auditor General for Wales.

The vote in today’s Plenary meeting follows his selection as the preferred candidate by the Public Accounts Committee last month.

Mr Thomas has previously been chief executive of both Denbighshire and Gwynedd County Councils and served on the Wales committee of the Big Lottery Fund.

“This is a great honour and privilege for me,” said Mr Thomas.

“The post of Auditor General for Wales carries a great responsibility, especially at a time when public spending is very much in the spotlight.

“I am looking for to working with the dedicated and talented team at the Wales Audit Office as we continue to ensure the public gets value for money from its public departments.”

Mr Thomas was chosen ahead of three other shortlisted candidates for the post of Auditor General Wales.

“The Public Accounts Committee is very pleased with the nomination of Huw for appointment as the new Auditor General,” said Jonathan Morgan AM, Chair of the Public Accounts Committee.

“His experience at the highest levels of the public sector in Wales is invaluable and my committee colleagues and I are sure he will uphold the already very high standards of scrutiny currently being attained by the Wales Audit Office.

“I would like to offer my sincerest thanks to Gillian Body for her thorough and professional approach as interim Auditor General.”

Mr Thomas is expected to take up his post in the autumn.