Diamond (pictured) has had a long career spanning social and official statistics. Most recently, he was principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Aberdeen. He has also been chief executive of the Economic and Social Research Council.

He is a fellow of the British Academy, Royal Society of Edinburgh and the Academy of Social Sciences.

As National Statistician, Diamond is the chief executive of the UK Statistics Authority, permanent secretary of the Office for National Statistics and head of the Government Statistical Service.

Sir David Norgrove, chair of the UK Statistics Authority, said: “Ian brings with him enormous professional experience and particular expertise in census design and analysis. I would like to record my warm thanks for John Pullinger’s exemplary leadership of the statistical service over the past five years. We have valued enormously John’s professional wise counsel and wish him well for the future.”

Diamond said: “The UK’s statistical system is one admired world-over and it is an enormous privilege to have been appointed as the UK’s National Statistician. I’m looking forward to building on the work of John Pullinger, as we make use of rich new data sources to deliver the data decision-makers across the UK need.”