The successor to PSNI chief constable Sir Hugh Orde was announced this evening.
Matt Baggott, currently chief constable of the Leicestershire Constabulary, has been appointed to the £184,000-a-year post.
A panel of seven interviewed four candidates for the postition today at the Policing Board's Clarendon Dock Headquarters. The appointment was approved by the Secretary of State.
Chairman of the Policing Board, Barry Gilligan, said Mr Baggott had accepted the appointment and would take up the position "as soon as possible."
"There is no doubt that the Chief Constable job here is challenging, demanding and carries a high profile. Matt Baggott has an impressive track record and in leading the PSNI forward his policing experiences will bring a new perspective to the delivery of the policing service here," he said.
"Chief Constable Baggott will work closely with the Board in setting the future priorities for policing and in ensuring the delivery of the best possible policing service to the community."
Accepting the appointment, Mr Baggott said he was delighted to have been given the opportunity to lead the PSNI.
"The PSNI has come through a significant change programme and I look forward to using my experience to build on the progress to date in the delivery of a professional policing service to all the people of Northern Ireland," he said.
The three other candidates for the job were Jim Gamble, chief executive of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre; Jon Stoddart, chief constable of Durham Constabulary; and Paul West, chief constable of West Mercia Police.
The Chairman of the Board also thanked the unsuccessful candidates, he said,
"The Board was very pleased with the high calibre candidates of candidates who applied for the Chief Constable job. All had a vast amount of policing experience and expertise and I would like to thank each of them for their interest.