Fraud squad appoints former FBI woman as director

Former FBI lawyer Lisa Osofsky has been appointed as director of Britain’s Serious Fraud Office, replacing David Green.

Ms Osofsky joins from Exiger, where she led the firm’s investigative and compliance activities, including money laundering and sanctions programmes.

A long career also saw her spend five years at the Bureau as deputy general counsel and ethics officer, prior to which she did a three-year stint as money laundering officer at Goldman Sachs.

She also worked in corporate investigations at Control Risks, as a US federal prosecutor and as special attorney at the US Department of Justice.

A dual UK-US citizen, Ms Osofsky’s tenure will begin on September 3.

Mr Green’s term ended on April 20 following six years in the role, with Mark Thompson then stepping into the role of interim director.

Ms Osofsky said: “I am honoured to be the next director of the Serious Fraud Office.

“I look forward to building on the SFO’s successful record in the fight against economic crime and leading an emboldened SFO to even greater heights.”

The Attorney General, Jeremy Wright, said her experience of working at an international level will “enhance the SFO’s capabilities in this area”.

Ms Osofsky’s appointment comes at a sensitive time for the SFO, with the Government looking to integrate the organisation into the National Crime Agency.

Ben Rose, partner at law firm Hickman and Rose, said: “She will have to decide if the SFO continues to exist or is abolished and rolled into the National Crime Agency.

“Although favoured by the Prime Minister, there are serious constitutional reasons why this should not happen.

“Whether such objections are simply ignored in the name of efficiency remains to be seen. Making the right call on this issue will be the real test of Osofsky’s mettle.”