Paul Finch appointed chair of Cabe

Paul Finch, director of the World Architecture Festival, has been appointed the chair of the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment.

Finch is a former chair of Cabe’s design review panel, and will succeed outgoing chairperson Sir John Sorrell in December.

Ben Bradshaw, the culture minister, said: “I’d like to congratulate Paul Finch who brings a wealth of experience and a formidable understanding of the world of architecture and the built environment to the role. I look forward to working with him. I would also like to thank the outgoing Chair Sir John Sorrell under whose assured leadership Cabe has gone from strength to strength.

Finch commented: “I am delighted to be rejoining Cabe, especially given its increasingly important role in promoting quality of architecture and place-making. I look forward to working with commissioners and the wider built environment community in the common cause of creating decent places to live, work and play.”

Finch began his career as a journalist, rising to become editor of Building’s sister magazine Building Design before moving to editorship of the Architectural Review.

As well as chairing Cabe’s national design review panel, he has also chaired the review panel for the designs for the 2012 Olympic Games.