UK IPO names Adam Williams as interim CEO

Adam Williams has been appointed interim chief executive of the UK's Intellectual Property Office (IPO), effective from September.

He replaces Tim Moss, who will leave the IPO on that date to become chief operating officer and director general of the devolved government in Wales.

Williams – currently director of international policy at the IPO – will hold the reins during the search for a permanent replacement.

The changeover comes as the IPO has just published a document setting out its strategy to fight intellectual property crime over the next five years, including the establishment of a national centre of excellence for gathering and analysing intelligence relating to IP infringement, so it can be used to guide and coordinate enforcement activity.

Along with the new interim CEO, the IPO has announced several other appointments, naming Andy Bartlett as deputy CEO and director of services, Chris Mills as head of rights policy and enforcement, and Pippa Hall as director of strategy.

Sian-Nia Davies, becomes chief data and technology officer, while Penny Phillpotts moves to the role of director of people and place.

"It is testament to the strong leadership across the IPO that the organisation has clear succession planning in place, and we can seamlessly move from one state to another," said Moss.