Education secretary Justine Greening has announced the appointment of Roger Taylor as the next chair of the exams watchdog today. 

He will replace Amanda Spielman, who takes over from Sir Michael Wilshaw as Ofsted’s chief inspector in the New Year.  

Mr Taylor, who is a member of the Ofqual board, has a career spanning the public sector, business and the media. 

He co-founded Dr Foster, a health information business, and has worked as an advisor to the Care Quality Commission. 

Mr Taylor, who currently works with the Careers and Enterprise Company, also used to work as a Financial Times journalist.

Education secretary Justine Greening said today: “Roger brings experience from a range of organisations, including Ofqual itself, where he has served as a member of the board.

“I am confident he and chief regulator Sally Collier will make a strong team.”

Mr Taylor, who is a member of Ofqual’s audit and risk committee and chair of its vocational advisory group, will take up the post from Ms Spielman from January. 

Ms Spielman, who is stepping down as chair after five years, oversaw what has been described as a “tsunami” of reform and steered the regulator through some tricky times.