Gordon Milligan, deputy chief executive of Translink, has been appointed to serve as chair of the board for a three-year term.

He succeeds Marie Mallon, who has chaired the body since August 2014 and was only last month re-appointed for a further year.

Geraldine Alexander, Kevin McCabe, Clare Duffield and Lee Wilson have been appointed to serve as ordinary members.

Economy Minister Diane Dodds said: “I am delighted that Gordon has agreed to serve as chair of the Labour Relations Agency Board and that Geraldine, Kevin, Clare and Lee have all agreed to serve as members.

“I am confident that these appointments will bring strong leadership along with a keen understanding of employment relations issues and awareness of the importance of good practice and would like to offer my best wishes to everyone as they take up their appointment.”

The LRA is a non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Department for the Economy, which offers impartial advice to both employees and employers. It has responsibility for promoting the improvement of employment relations in Northern Ireland.

The board, which consists of a chair and nine members, includes employment law experts and trade unionists.