KPMG partner Jeremy Outen is to be appointed director of the economic crime command at the new National Crime Agency (NCA) which is due to start work in a few months' time.

The unit will 'provide an innovative and improved capability to deal with fraud and economic crimes, including those carried out by organised criminals', according to the Home Office.

Outen, a forensic accountant with 21 years experience, is head of KPMG's fraud practice and has worked on cases such as the collapse of Kuwait Investment Office's investments in Spain, investigations in Switzerland into dormant bank accounts belonging to victims of Nazi persecution, and the collapse of SBS-Agro in Moscow. He has also had a secondment to the Cabinet Office looking at proceeds of crime policy.

In a statement, home secretary Theresa May said: 'Jeremy Outen has the skills and experience necessary to tackle the challenges posed by economic crime. Getting a senior leadership team in place early is crucial to ensuring the NCA is ready to become fully operational later this year.'

The legislation to create the NCA is expected to receive Royal Assent next month and the unit will become active in October.