News story: Companies House announces new Chief Executive

Louise Smyth has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of Companies House and The Registrar of Companies for England and Wales. She will take up leadership of the organisation in September 2017 and joins Companies House from a long career at the Intellectual Property Office, including roles as Director of IT, Director of Corporate Services and latterly as Chief Operating Officer.

Lesley Cowley, Companies House Chair said:

“I am delighted to announce Louise Smyth’s appointment as the next Chief Executive of Companies House. We are at the forefront of the Government’s agenda for economic growth by making it easy to start a company, simple to maintain company information and easy and quick for everyone to access company information. Louise will be tasked with leading the successful implementation of our challenging business plans, in order to make our vision of becoming the best registry in the world a reality”.

Louise Smyth said:

“I am absolutely delighted to be given the opportunity to be Chief Executive of Companies House. I am very much looking forward to working with the team to build upon the great reputation of Companies House and to deliver exemplary services and operations for all our customers”.

Notes

• The appointment of Louise Smyth follows an open competition overseen by the Civil Service Commission.
• Louise will take up her post in September. She replaces Ann Lewis, who has been Interim Chief Executive and Registrar since the previous Chief Executive and Registrar, Tim Moss left the organisation in April this year.
• Louise is currently Chief Operating Officer of the Intellectual Property Office.
• Companies House can trace its origins to 1844, when the first Register of Joint Stock Companies was created. Louise will be the 33rd Registrar.