Christopher Duff has been appointed for an initial three-year period as the first chief executive of the new Sector Skills Development Agency (SSDA). His appointment follows the appointment of the Chair, Margaret Salmon who was appointed on 14 February. Christopher Duff is currently the chief executive of the South Yorkshire Learning and Skills Council. He has led and managed the LSC since its inception in March 2001, and was formerly Chief Executive of Rotherham Chamber of Commerce and Rotherham Training and Enterprise Council. He spent five years at KPMG Management Consulting and has worked at the Scottish Development Agency and as Head of Policy and Corporate Planning at the London Docklands Development Corporation.

Christopher Duff said: "I am pleased to be in at the very start of this great new project and to be working with Margaret Salmon. We aim to put in place a substantive and highly credible network of SSCs that can speak authoritatively and effectively for employer and business needs. I am committed to achieving this and look forward to making early progress."