David Varney, the executive chairman of HM Revenue and Customs, is the new President of the Chartered Management Institute.

He succeeds Sir Paul Judge, the chairman of the Royal Society of Arts. Varney's career started as personnel assistant at the Shell Refining Company, where he moved through the ranks to become a director of Shell International Petroleum Company in 1995.

He has also served as chief executive of BG Group plc and chairman of mmo2.

Varney said of his appointment: “I have always believed that the education and development of leaders and managers is of paramount importance to all UK organisations. The challenge of raising awareness about what skills you need to be considered a good manager is emotive and exciting, so I am particularly delighted and honoured to serve as President of the Chartered Management Institute at this time.”