First Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commissioner announced

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Peter Hain, today announced the appointment of Stephen Geraghty as Commissioner Designate of the new Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission.

The Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission will deliver child maintenance and replace the Child Support Agency.

Stephen Geraghty has been the Chief Executive of the Child Support Agency since 2005, prior to which he worked in the private sector as Managing Director of Green Flag Group and UK Insurance, Managing Director, Assistance Division of Direct Line Group and Managing Director of Direct Line Financial Services.

Giving his reaction to his appointment, Stephen Geraghty said: "I am delighted to have been appointed as the first Commissioner of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission. The Commission marks a new era in child maintenance. It gives us the operational freedom to develop new services to support parents to take more responsibility for their children. The passage of the child maintenance bill through Parliament will, at last, give us the policy framework needed to make a difference to more children. But the operational improvements we have made must continue to underpin the transition into the new Commission."