Wellington, Sept 15 NZPA - Eden Park Redevelopment Board chief executive Adam Feeley is to replace Grant Liddell as chief executive and director of the Serious Fraud Office.

Announcing the appointment today, deputy state services commissioner John Ombler said Mr Feeley, who is expected to take up the appointment in November, was a strong leader.

He had extensive regulatory and enforcement experience, including work in the corporate and securities sector as national manager of the Companies Office.

Before his Eden Park job, Mr Feeley was Crown Minerals group manager at the Ministry of Economic Development, where he was responsible for promoting petroleum exploration in this country and carrying out the regulatory function for the industry.

Mr Feeley 's other roles included Baycorp Holdings general manager, and Ministry of Commerce national manager business registries.

He practised as a solicitor in the Department of Trade and Industry in London, and in New Zealand at the Department of Justice and at Bell Gully.

Mr Feeley has a Bachelor of Laws with Honours from Canterbury University and was admitted as a barrister and solicitor of the High Court of New Zealand.