Ian Powell. Photo: UKTI, Flickr

Ian Powell, former senior partner and chairman of PwC, the UK’s largest professional services firm, is to become chairman of outsourcing giant Capita.

Powell will take over the post from January next year.

Capita said: “Ian’s background of delivering growth in a highly competitive environment across a diverse and innovative organisation makes him ideally suited to Capita.”

Capita added that Powell had “strong credentials and is highly in tune with Capita’s objectives, business model and markets”.

Powell said: “Capita’s focus on helping clients transform and evolve their operations has real relevance in the current rapidly shifting commercial, societal and political environments.”

The announcement means that Powell succeeds Martin Bolland, who steps down after six years as chairman.

Powell headed PwC until June this year following eight years in charge. The firm’s fee income grew 10% to £3bn in revenues for the year to June 2015. In the previous year the firm grew 5%.

Capita is one of the most high-profile outsourcing companies, with clients across local and central government as well as in the private sector.

Capita’s underlying revenues were up 7% to December 2015 to £4.6bn.