The UK's Food Standards Agency (FSA) has appointed Catherine Brown as its chief executive.

Brown, chief executive of the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency for Defra, will take up the post in October, the FSA said today (18 July).

She will succeed Tim Smith, who has been chief executive since March 2008. No reason was given for his departure.

"Catherine's wide-ranging experience and background, in both the private and public sectors, complement our core principles and will be valuable to the FSA as we move forward," said FSA chair Jeff Rooker. "Her experience of working and delivering in a devolved environment will be a benefit to the organisation."