Professor Sir Ian Diamond FBA appointed the UK’s National Statistician

A Fellow of the British Academy has been appointed the UK’s National Statistician.

Professor Sir Ian Diamond, who was elected to the British Academy in 2005, will take up his new role in October this year.

The National Statistician is the Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, Permanent Secretary of the Office for National Statistics and Head of the Government Statistical Service. As Chief Executive of the UK Statistics Authority, Sir Ian will be an executive member of the Board of the UK Statistics Authority.

Sir Ian’s career spans many areas of social and official statistics. Most recently, he served as Principal and Vice Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen, and prior to that held the role of Chief Executive of the Economic and Social Research Council.

He is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Academy of Social Sciences.

On the announcement of his appointment by Her Majesty the Queen, Sir Ian Diamond, said:

“The UK’s statistical system is one admired world-over and it is an enormous privilege to have been appointed as the UK’s National Statistician. I’m looking forward to building on the work of John Pullinger, as we make use of rich new data sources to deliver the data decision-makers across the UK need.

“I’m particularly excited to be working with staff across the Office for National Statistics and the Government Statistical Service, as we empower our partners in Parliament, academia, business and beyond with trusted and quality data.”

Professor Sir David Cannadine, President of the British Academy, said:

“On behalf of everyone at the British Academy, I would like to congratulate Sir Ian Diamond on his appointment as the UK’s National Statistician. This is truly excellent news. Sir Ian is a huge credit to the Academy and has led on several of our flagship programmes, including our report on the skills of humanities and social science graduates, and the exciting careers they go on to enjoy. Indeed, Sir Ian is himself living proof of the enormous value of the humanities and social sciences, combining as he does a lifetime’s knowledge and experience in sociology, demography and statistics. I wish him all the best in his new role.”

Sir David Norgrove, Chair of the UK Statistics Authority, warmly welcomed Sir Ian’s appointment:

“I am delighted that we have appointed Sir Ian as the UK Statistics Authority’s new Chief Executive and National Statistician. Ian brings with him enormous professional experience and particular expertise in census design and analysis.

“I would like to record my warm thanks for John Pullinger’s exemplary leadership of the Statistical Service over the last five years as National Statistician before his recent retirement. We have valued enormously John’s professional wise counsel and wish him well for the future.”