The Law Society has appointed an interim chief executive pending the recruitment of a permanent replacement for departing CEO Catherine Dixon.

Paul Tennant OBE, who recently stepped down as chief executive of the housing association Orbit after 14 years in the role, will join the Society next Monday. Tennant has spent 35 years in the housing industry, starting his career in local government.

Robert Bourns, Law Society president, said: 'I am delighted to be working with Paul Tennant while we finalise arrangements for recruiting a permanent chief executive.

'Paul has been chief executive of a large and complex housing organisation but also has a clear understanding of non-executive leadership roles, having been president of the Chartered Institute of Housing. This perspective will be helpful as we consider future ways of working.

'We have a clear business plan for the year focused on understanding and serving our members, transforming our IT and improving our efficiency. Paul will be working with our executive team to deliver our plans.’

Bourns added that his focus will continue to be working with Council colleagues and others to take forward the Society’s governance review.

He added: 'We have appointed the Good Governance Institute to help us with the review and have also brought member perspectives on to our review working group.

'I will say more about the recruitment of a permanent chief executive in due course and in the meantime thank Catherine Dixon for her hard and effective work with the Society.’

Dixon was recently appointed to head an agricultural college in Yorkshire. Her last day at Chancery Lane is Wednesday 1 February.