The Federation Against Copyright Theft (‘FACT’) is delighted to announce the appointment of Kieron Sharp as its new Director General. Kieron takes up his post on 6th November 2006.Kieron comes to FACT with a strong background in law enforcement, latterly as Head of Specialist Crime Operations at the City of London Police Service, a role which holds responsibility for Major Crime Investigations, Surveillance Operations, Intelligence, Special Branch, Criminal Justice, Forensic Support, Crime Policy and Training, Crime Recording and the Home Office Major Incident System at the City of London Police.

Detective Chief Superintendent Sharp has thirty years service, having started in the Metropolitan Police Service, and transferring to the City on promotion to Detective Sergeant in 1988. Although the majority of his career has been as a detective, he has worked in all areas of criminal investigation from general crime through murder enquiries and other major incidents to fraud and covert operations.

Between 1995 and1999, Mr Sharp was seconded to Interpol headquarters in Lyon, France where he was Head of the Economic Crime Department and he is also a graduate of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) national academy in Quantico, Virginia.

Brian Robertson, FACT Chairman commented, “I am delighted that Kieron has chosen FACT as the next stepping stone in his distinguished career. FACT as an organisation has developed immeasurably in the past two years and it is to the credit of Raymond Leinster and the efforts of all his team that we have been able to attract a replacement of Kieron’s calibre and experience.

The whole organisation looks forward to welcoming Kieron and wishes Raymond every success in the future.”

Kieron Sharp added, “I am very much looking forward to joining FACT – an organisation which has gained a reputation for being dynamic and progressive. I hope that the knowledge and experience I bring from all aspects of my police career can ensure that FACT continues to be very much at the forefront of the fight against piracy.”