Gareth Davies has been appointed as managing director of audit practice at the Audit Commission. Currently head of local government, housing and safety at the commission, Mr Davies will prepare the organisation for a major transition after communities secretary, Eric Pickles, revealed it would be abolished and its functions moved to the private sector. Mr Davies will lead staff as they prepare to compete in an open market for local public audit work – potentially as an employee-owned business. He said: ‘We want to ensure that councils, foundation trusts and other local public services are offered a distinctive alternative to the major audit firms.'