David Hunter, Chief Executive of the Further Education National Training Organisation (FENTO), has been appointed to lead the new Sector Skills Council (SSC) for Lifelong Learning.

Mr Hunter took up his post this week, as the new organisation moves towards gaining a full license to operate as an SSC.

Lifelong Learning UK is an organisation representing public, private and voluntary sector employers in community based learning and development, further and higher education, work-based learning, libraries, archives, information services and youth work.

The organisation expects to be fully operational as a SSC by the end of this year.

Before he moved to England David Hunter held a number of senior management posts in further education, adult and community learning and the voluntary sector in Northern Ireland. He is committed to partnership working and social inclusion.

He is a former chair of Skills Northern Ireland and was a Trustee of the Open College Network.

Lifelong Learning UK has also announced that John Hedger will continue as interim chair of the new organisation until October 2005.