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A committee of MPs has endorsed the appointment of Dr Alan Gillespie as chairman of the Economic and Social Research Council.
The innovation, universities, science and skills committee approved Gillespie for the role, after the government suggested him as a suitable candidate on April 6.
The committee questioned the candidate on May 5 and, in a report on Tuesday, praised Gillespie’s "preparation, openness and awareness of the issues".
Committee chairman Phil Willis said: "This was the first pre-appointment hearing our committee has held, and we found it a very constructive process.
"We were impressed with Dr Gillespie’s insight and plans for the ESRC, and look forward to scrutinising the work of the council under his chairmanship."
The ESRC is one of six non-departmental research councils sponsored by DIUS.
The body funds social science across a wide range of disciplines, from economics to psychology.
Gillespie is a former managing director of Goldman Sachs and is currently chairman of the International Finance Facility for Immunisation.
He is also a former chief executive of the Commonwealth Development Corporation and was chairman of Ulster Bank Group, which is owned by the Royal Bank of Scotland group.
Approving Gillespie's post, the committee stated: "We were impressed by his preparation, openness and awareness of the issues, and by his commitment to broadening the public influence of the ESRC and to research excellence across the range of academia.
"We recommend that the secretary of state proceed with the appointment and wish Dr Gillespie every success in his new post."
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