26 June 2006 | Rebecca Ellinor

The Ministry of Defence has appointed Amyas Morse as its first defence commercial director.

The new senior procurement post has been established to drive the implementation of the department's Defence Industrial Strategy, published last December, which details what defence technologies the government intends to buy in the next 10 years, and in the longer term.

Morse is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland. He is moving from the post of global managing partner for operations at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

He said in a statement: "I will work hard to lead, support and develop the commercial team in the MoD, to build strong relationships with industry, and, working with both, to help deliver good results for our armed forces, the taxpayer, and business."

Lord Drayson, minister for defence procurement, welcomed the appointment. In a statement, he said: "Amyas Morse has a wealth of valuable experience which will enhance the department's commercial capability. In this wide-ranging and challenging role he will be instrumental in successfully driving forward the commercial aspects of the Defence Industrial Strategy."

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