United Nations Development Programme Administrator Achim Steiner announced today the appointment of Chris Taylor as the new Director of UNDP’s Office of Audit and Investigations (OAI). Mr. Taylor will succeed Helge Osttveiten to whom the Administrator has expressed his appreciation for his service and commitment during his tenure.

Mr. Taylor is an experienced leader, chartered accountant, and internal audit professional with a broad range of ancillary skills covering counter fraud, risk management and safeguarding investigations. 

He is currently the Director of Internal Audit and Investigations in the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office of the United Kingdom, leading a team of audit, fraud and safeguarding specialists, responsible for providing a programme of risk-based audit and assurance over the Department’s global footprint and development spending. He also leads the independent investigations teams that cover all allegations relating to fraud, whistleblowing and sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment. 

“The Office of Audit and Investigations plays a critical role to UNDP’s work. I look forward to working closely with Chris Taylor in further strengthening critical oversight functions in our organization. These remain crucial elements for our credibility, accountability and transparency as a public institution," said Steiner. 

Prior to his current role, he held several senior positions in the Department for International Development - Head of Audit and Investigations, Deputy Head of Global Funds Department - and in the Department for Communities and Local Government of the UK. He has also performed as a Member of the Audit and Finance Committees of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. 

Mr. Taylor is a national of the United Kingdom. He holds a Master’s Degree in Physics from Oxford University, is a Certified Internal Auditor and a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.