Richard Webster has been appointed acting chief executive of outsourcing firm Liberata. He joined the firm in 2007 as chief financial officer, and succeeds Robert Gogel, who left after completing the sale of Liberata's Financial Services (LFS) business to HCL Bermuda in September, in a move designed to allow the company to concentrate on local and central government contracts and its business partnerships. Mr Webster said: ‘My goal is to develop the core strength of the business and build strategic relationships with our commercial partners. ‘The markets Liberata operates in offer ample opportunities for the company and we need to succeed in gaining new business while continually raising our performance operationally.' In July, Liberata signed a ‘gold partnership' agreement with the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives, but more recently has been criticised for delays in processing maintenance allow-ances for school and college students. The firm was originally set up by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy in 1975.