Paul Stallard has joined the Public Fundraising Regulatory Association as its first paid chair, succeeding Michael Naidu who has been acting chair since 2008.

Stallard is a financial services marketing expert who was behind the Liquid Gold brand for the Leeds Permanent Building Society and jointly conceived and launched First Direct for Midland Bank. He set up his own consultancy in 1992 and co-founded a stockbroking firm in 2002, before moving back into consultancy two years later.

He said he sees parallels between his work in the financial services sector and the regulatory challenges facing the PFRA. “What attracted me to this position is that face-to-face fundraising is a most efficient and effective means of enabling charities to serve their beneficiaries – in other words their customers,” he said.

Stallard insisted he would “play an active part” in negotiating with councils. His other duties will include chairing alternate-monthly board meetings, the AGM and other PFRA events and meetings, speaking engagements, and building relationships with our stakeholders and partners. He will also recruit a new chief executive to replace Mick Aldridge who stepped down last autumn.

He will be paid an annual stipend by the PFRA.