Culture secretary Ben Bradshaw has announced the appointment of Paul Finch as the new chair of the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE).

Finch, who is currently programme director of the World Architecture Festival, will succeed Sir John Sorrell as chair of the commission for a four-year period from 14 December, having previously held the post of deputy chair. In addition to his former role of commissioner and deputy chair of the government's advisory body for architecture, public spaces and urban design, Finch has also spent five years on CABE's design review panel and has chaired its 2012 Games design review panel since 2006.

Finch said: "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."