Serious Fraud Office director Nick Ephgrave QPM announces retirement

Ephgrave will remain in post until the end of March. An interim director will be appointed for the SFO pending a formal recruitment process for Ephgrave’s successor. 

Speaking about his decision, Nick Ephgrave said: “It’s with great pride that I reflect on the enormous progress the SFO has made in the last two-and-a-half years. We have achieved more things more quickly than even I thought possible thanks entirely to the enthusiasm, commitment and ‘can do’ attitude from everyone at the SFO. I’m certain that the momentum we’ve created will continue to propel the organisation forward to bigger and better things.”

Ephgrave added: “I would like to thank each and every colleague for their support and hard work, without which none of this could have happened.”

Ambition and scope 

During his time in office, Ephgrave set out to redefine the ambition and scope of the SFO, overseeing a focus on proactivity, innovation and pace. This has included a sharper and faster casework approach, the use of Artificial Intelligence and machine learning in support of improved disclosure practice and the creation of a crypto-asset capability.

Successes during Ephgrave’s tenure include bringing charges against five men for complex fraud offences linked to the collapse of law firm Axiom Ince in just 15 months (the fastest in the organisation’s history).

Last month, a guilty plea was secured from the director of a company that sold aircraft engine parts with forged documentation just two years after the SFO launched an investigation.

In addition, the SFO continues to be a leading partner in global anti-corruption work. Of particular significance is the founding of the first international Anti-Corruption Prosecutorial Task Force, duly delivering an enhanced operational partnership between key European partners.

Incentivisation of whistleblowers

From the outset, Ephgrave has championed the incentivisation of whistleblowers to drive up referral rates and increase corporate prosecutions. In recent weeks, the Government committed to assessing the feasibility of financial incentive schemes for those reporting economic crime as part of its new UK Anti-Corruption Strategy.

Ephgrave concluded: “I shall miss the job and my SFO colleagues so very much, but will reflect on the progress we’ve made together with pride and satisfaction. I believe we have achieved what we set out to do: create a rejuvenated SFO that’s strong, confident, dynamic and pragmatic. It has an even greater future ahead.”

Attorney General Richard Hermer KC noted: “I want to pay the warmest of personal and professional tributes to Nick Ephgrave as he retires after a long career in public service. Nick brought over three decades’ worth of policing experience to the Serious Fraud Office and, in the role of director, modernised the organisation’s approach to tackling serious fraud, bribery and corruption, strengthening its capabilities and securing important convictions in complex economic crime cases.”

Hermer added: “Nick’s energy, expertise, integrity, determination and commitment to public service have left a lasting mark on the SFO and on the police forces in which he served. I thank him for his dedication, pay tribute to his family for their support and wish him all the very best for his well-deserved retirement.”

Claire Bassett, chair of the Board, said: “Nick has led the SFO with tremendous energy and vision, in turn transforming its approach towards tackling complex crime. His legacy is a reinvigorated organisation well placed to build on swifter and more effective approaches to delivering justice.”