The Legal Services Board has appointed Richard Moriarty as its next chief executive.

Moriarty will join the umbrella regulator in early 2015 from water company Affinity Water, where he is currently director of regulation.

He will replace outgoing chief executive Chris Kenny, who will leave the role next month to join the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland.

Previously Moriarty, who has spent his career in regulated sectors, was director of economic regulation and competition policy at the Civil Aviation Authority.

LSB chair Mike Pitt said Moriarty’s regulatory experience will help serve legal services providers and consumers alike and ‘make him well-placed to lead the LSB as it enters its next phase’.

Moriarty said: ‘We all have an interest in a successful legal services market, as confidence in it underpins our democracy, economy and a wider public interest. I look forward to working closely with all those that have an interest in our legal sector to ensure it remains admired at home and abroad by delivering for consumers and by being innovative, vibrant and effective.’