The Office of the Third Sector has found a replacement for Campbell Robb, who is leaving to lead the charity Shelter in the new year.

Rolande Anderson, director general of transformation and corporate services at the Office for National Statistics (ONS), is to lead the Cabinet Office unit from December 21st, initially on a 12-month contract.

She will also be in charge of the Social Exclusion Taskforce, also based within the Cabinet Office.

Third sector and social exclusion minister Angela Smith said Anderson will bring a "vast amount of experience and expertise" to the role.

Previous to ONS, Anderson started her career with the then Department of Industry and rose to become director-general of its innovation group in 2003.

Two years later she moved to the Government Office for the South East, where she worked on third sector issues such as the compact between the sector and government, and community cohesion, a Cabinet Office spokesman said.

In a statement, Anderson said: "I have seen at first hand the huge contribution the third sector makes through its work in regional and local partnerships, and the understanding it brings of the impact of policies on people, particularly the most vulnerable.

"As a champion of diversity throughout my career in government, I have also valued the expert help of the sector on issues such as disability awareness and overcoming cultural barriers."


Rolande Anderson: Career

1976: Cambridge, BA Modern and Medieval Languages
1976: Joins Department of Industry as a trainee
1979: Higher Executive Officer, Shipping Policy Division
1983: Head of Mergers section
1985: Head of Eureka section
1987: Head of Airframes
1989: Industry, Energy, Overseas Aid, European Union External Relations, European Secretariat, Cabinet Office
1991: Head, Policy and Planning Insolvency Service
1992: Director of Aerospace and Defence Industries, Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)
1996: Director of Regional European Funds
1999: Director of Competition Policy, Competition and Markets
2002: Chief Executive, Radiocommunications Agency
2003: Deputy Director-General, Innovation Group, DTI
2005: Regional Director, Government Office for the South East
2008: Director-General of Transformation and Corporate Services, Office for National Statistics
2009: Director-General, Office of the Third Sector and Social Exclusion Taskforce, Cabinet Office