By Eric King-
Former FBI lawyer Lisa Osofsky has been appointed as director of Britain’s Serious Fraud Office, replacing David Green.
Currently the managing director and European head of investigations at Exiger, Lisa Osofsky, her appointment is an elevation of her presently respectable post. A former US federal prosecutor whose career has included spells at the FBI and Goldman Sachs, will be the new director of the Serious Fraud Office.
The Attorney-General’s Office confirmed the widely expected appointment on Monday. Ms Osofsky will commence her new role from September 3 from Mark Thompson, who has been the interim head since April. Ms Osofsky will take up the post on September 3 from Mark Thompson, who has been the interim head since April.
Ms Osofsky said she was “honoured” to be the agency’s director, adding that she looked forward to “building on the SFO’s successful record in the fight against economic crime and leading an emboldened SFO to even greater heights”.
U.S born Ms Osofsky had once led the firm’s investigative and compliance activities, including money laundering and sanctions programmes.
She also spent five years at the Bureau as deputy general counsel and ethics officer, after spending three years as money laundering officer at Goldman Sachs.
Once a U.S federal prosecutor and special attorney at the US Department of Justice, Mr Green’s term ended on April 20 after six years in the role, with Mark Thompson then stepping into the role of interim director.
Osofsky is currently the managing director and European head of investigations at Exiger, will replace interim director Mark Thompson on 3 September.
Osofsky becomes just the third female director of the SFO since its creation in 1988 and its first in 16 years. She follows Barbara Mills (1990-92) and Rosamind Wright (1997-2002) in the role.
Ms Osofsky said: “I am honoured to be the next director of the Serious Fraud Office.
“I look forward to building on the SFO’s successful record in the fight against economic crime and leading an emboldened SFO to even greater heights.”
The Attorney General, Jeremy Wright, said her experience of working at an international level will “enhance the SFO’s capabilities in this area”.
Ms Osofsky’s appointment comes at a sensitive time for the SFO, with the Government looking to integrate the organisation into the National Crime Agency.
Ben Rose, partner at law firm Hickman and Rose, said: “She will have to decide if the SFO continues to exist or is abolished and rolled into the National Crime Agency.
“Although favoured by the Prime Minister, there are serious constitutional reasons why this should not happen.
“Whether such objections are simply ignored in the name of efficiency remains to be seen. Making the right call on this issue will be the real test of Osofsky’s mettle.”