Reappointment of the Chairman of the Criminal Cases Review Commission

Helen Pitcher OBE has been reappointed as Chairman of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC) for a term of 5 years from 1 November 2021.

CCRC is an independent body, set up by the Criminal Appeal Act 1995, to investigate possible miscarriages of justice in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

CCRC decides if there is any new evidence or new argument which raises a real possibility that an appeal court would quash a conviction or reduce a sentence.

Appointments to the CCRC are regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments and comply with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

Biography

Helen is Chairman of Advanced Boardroom Excellence; a Non-Executive Director at United Biscuits UK; C & C Group Plc and Chairman of their Remuneration Committee and a member of the Nomination and Environment, Social and Governance Committees. 

Helen is also a Senior Independent Director at OneHealth Group Ltd and Chairman of the Remuneration and Nominations Committees;  President of INSEAD Directors Network Board and a Chairman of INSEAD Directors Club Limited.   Helen is the President of KidsOut (a National Children’s Charity) and sits on the Advisory Board for Leeds University Law Faculty.

Helen has an MA, LLB (Law), from Queen Mary’s College London. Until 2017, Helen was Chairman of the Queen’s Counsel Selection Panel. She is a former member of the Professional Conduct Committee of the Bar Council. Helen has served as a panel member of the Employment Appeal Tribunal for more than 17 years.

In 2015, Helen was awarded an OBE for services to business.