Human rights charity Reprieve has announced the appointment of the former director of public prosecutions, Lord Ken Macdonald as its new chair following the death of previous chair, Lord Bingham of Cornhill in September.

Lord Macdonald was hailed as "unanswering in his profound commitment to human rights" by Reprieve founding director Clive Stafford Smith as he made the announcement yesterday.

The new chair is also co-founder of Matrix Chambers, a law practice specialising in human rights since the turn of the 21st century, and has been a voice for human rights since being called to the Bar in 1978.  

Lord Macdonald used the opportunity to pay tribute to his predecessor, who served in the highest courts in the UK: "I’m delighted to be joining Reprieve as its new chair," he said. "I have long admired its extraordinary work around the world fighting injustice and saving lives.

"Reprieve’s implacable opposition to the barbarism of execution and its determined hostility to the abuse of detainees everywhere are values that I have always shared. I am particularly honoured to be following Lord Bingham in this role."