The Chief Constable of Kent, Mr David Phillips, a police officer with over 35 years' experience, will oversee the investigation into the killing of Ms Rosemary Nelson.
One of Britain's most senior officers, he has held his current role for six years. He took over the posting from Sir Paul Condon, the current Commissioner of the London Metropolitan Police.
Over the last two years Mr Phillips (54) has been concerned with improving the detection figures for murders in Britain and has appointed a team of experienced officers to draw up plans to gain better results.
Mr Phillips arrived in Kent from the Devon and Cornwall Constabulary, where he was deputy chief constable for almost four years. He began his police career in 1963 with the Lancashire Constabulary and served there until 1984. For the next five years he served as assistant chief constable with the Greater Manchester Police, where he headed the operations department and took charge of major incidents.
Mr Phillips was awarded the Queen's Police Medal in the 1994 New Year's honours list.
The Kent County Constabulary investigated the London Metropolitan Police's handling of the Stephen Lawrence murder inquiry.