The UK's Attorney General’s Office has announced that Mark Thompson, who has been working as the Chief Operating Officer at the Serious Fraud Office for some time, is acting as director on a temporary basis while HM Government searches for a replacement for the recently departed David Green QC.

David Green was the SFO's director for six years. He presided over six convictions for rate rigging offences and the first SFO conviction after trial of a corporate entity for offences involving the bribery of foreign officials. Under him, the venerable institution has secured a number of controversial deferred prosecution agreements.

Helped by a process 'led' by the Civil Service Commission, the Attorney General has already singled out a preferred candidate to lead the SFO and the appointment process is thought to be all but over.