The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has announced the appointment of Chris Walters as chief economist, succeeding Amelia Fletcher who will leave shortly to take up a new position.

Walters, who has been appointed on temporary promotion, starts his new role in April and will report to chief executive Clive Maxwell. He will head the office of the chief economist, which delivers the OFT’s economic policy, research, “thought leadership” and evaluation, and supports its enforcement and markets work. I

He will also be head of profession for all economists working in the OFT.

Currently director of economics in the goods and consumer group, Walters has been at the OFT since 2007, when he joined as assistant director (economics), mergers.

Maxwell said: “Amelia has made an outstanding contribution to the work of the OFT throughout her time here as Chief Economist, leading the group with vision and distinction. This is reflected in the high regard in which she is held by the wider competition community and we wish her all the best in her new position.

“Chris is an excellent and highly experienced economist and well placed to take over from Amelia. He will play a major part in ensuring that the OFT remains at the forefront of economic thinking, helping drive the continued delivery of high quality consumer and competition work as we head towards the new regime.

“Alongside this, he will be instrumental in laying the groundwork, in partnership with Competition Commission colleagues, for the economics function at the Competition and Markets Authority.”