Ex-union boss Sir Brendan Barber has been announced as the new chair of the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) Council.

Sir Brendan was Trades Union Congress (TUC) general secretary from 2003 to 2012 and received a knighthood in the Queen’s Birthday Honours earlier this year for services to employment relations.

Acas Chief Executive Anne Sharp said: “I am delighted that Sir Brendan will join Acas as our new Chair. His wealth of experience in employment relations with both employees and employers will be invaluable in our role as independent, impartial and trusted employment relations experts.

“Brendan’s energy, drive and commitment will ensure Acas continues to move forward with our major new projects such as the delivery of Early Conciliation in 2014.”

Sir Brendan said: “I am very pleased to be taking on this role. Acas has played a crucial role over many years promoting best practice in employment relations and helping to resolve countless seemingly intractable workplace disputes. Its work will be particularly important to meeting the challenge of building a genuine sustainable recovery with fairness at work at its heart.”

Sir Brendan will start in the New Year and will serve a three year term.