The Security Industry Authority (SIA) has appointed Michelle Russell as Acting Chief Executive. She will take up that role on October 19 after Ian Todd leaves the SIA, as announced in August.
Michelle is the SIA’s Director of Inspections and Enforcement. She joined the private security regulator in January from another regulator, the Charity Commission, where she was director of investigations, monitoring and enforcement.
Elizabeth France, Chair of the SIA said: “Michelle was selected following an internal competition. All Authority Members took part in the interview and selection process and were impressed by the candidates’ performances. It confirmed our view that we have a strong senior team at the SIA. After careful consideration, we decided that Michelle Russell should take the SIA forward as Acting Chief Executive until a permanent appointment is made, probably in about six months.”
Michelle, pictured, said: “I am pleased and excited to be taking on this role. I look forward to working with the Authority members, the directors and staff at the SIA, to continue to support the private security industry in protecting the public in these unprecedented times.”
Background
The SIA like other workplaces closed its Canary Wharf head offices for lockdown in March and is not likely to return there for the foreseeable future. This appointment means that the Authority has had four chiefs, permanent or interim, in the last couple of years, since Alan Clamp announced he was leaving in autumn 2018 and Dave Humphries was interim chief until Ian Todd took over in February last year.
