Private equity chief, Mike Clasper, has been appointed chairman of HM Revenue & Customs after a six month search following Paul Gray’s resignation in November over the lost child benefit records debacle.

Clasper, former managing director of Terra Firma and chief executive of BAA plc until July 2006, has been appointed chairman by the prime minister Gordon Brown to strengthen corporate governance.

He will also provide oversight to the executive committee and departmental board and play a key role for HMRC by engaging with the department's many stakeholders.

The Cabinet Office said Clasper had been appointed following an open recruitment process and with the agreement of the chancellor , Alistair Darling.

‘Appointing someone of his calibre and experience is particularly important at this point in HMRC's development and I am delighted he has agreed to take on the role. He will bring the leadership and vision needed to deliver on HMRC's goals of providing an enhanced service to all of its customers across the UK,’ said Darling.

Clasper said he wants to see HMRC in the ‘vanguard of public delivery, providing a top quality and reliable experience’ for all of its users.

He takes over from acting chairman Dave Hartnett from the beginning of August and will work a three-day week while Hartnett will take up the reigns as acting chief executive.

The chief executive role is a new position which the HMRC is actively recruiting for at the moment.

Many tax experts are hoping that Hartnett will return to his original role as director general of business where he was widely respected for his tax-avoidance work.