EAL, the specialist awarding organisation, has announced that it has appointed John Hiller as its new chairman with immediate effect.

He replaces former chairman Alastair Imrie who retired from the position last month.

Mr Hillier has worked in and around qualifications since the mid-1980s and has been on the EAL Board since 1997. He was chief executive of the National Council for Vocational Qualifications, from 1990 to 1997, responsible for the development and introduction of NVQs and GNVQs.

In addition, he spent many years in the glass and steel industries working in production and HR management. He has worked as a consultant in learning and assessment to the UK government and in many overseas countries.

He is a Trustee of the Commercial Education Trust and a member of the board of Semta.