Former Leicester Mercury editor Keith Perch has been named as the regional press representative on the board of the new Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipso.)

The 12-person board, named yesterday, will comprise of five representatives from the press industry, and six from outside the industry, alongside chairman Sir Alan Moses.

Keith, pictured left, also edited the South Wales Echo and Derby Telegraph during his career in the regional press before leaving the Mercury in 2011.

He and the rest of the board will now appoint the 12-person complaints committee, which will adjudicate on complaints against publishers.

When it makes its appointments, the board must also take into account the views of publishers, as represented by the Regulatory Funding Company.

Last month it was announced that the ex-Appeal Court judge Sir Alan would be the first chair of the IPSO, and he has worked with a five-person selection panel – including press industry representatives Paul Horrocks and John Witherow, to appoint the board members.

As a body the board will be able to launch investigations into newspapers, and could issue fines up to £1m.

The other industry representatives are:

Magazines: Kevin Hand, former Emap chief executive, who is deputy chairman of the PPA.

Scottish newspapers: Charles McGhee, ex-editor of The Herald.

National tabloid newspapers: Former Sun managing editor William Newman, who retired in 2005 after a 36-year career with the paper (lastly as ombudsman).

National broadsheet newspapers: Charles Wilson, ex editor of The Times and Independent.

The non press industry members of the IPSO board are:

Ros Altmann, ex-director general of Saga group.

Rick Hill, Chair of the general consumer council for Northern Ireland.

Anne Lapping, Vice chairman for the council and court of the London School of Economics.

Tom Phillips, ex-UK ambassador to Saudi Arabia.

Richard Reed, Co founder of Innocent drinks.

Dame Clare Ticknell, Chief executive of Hanover Housing Association.

The IPSO’s launch has now been put back from June to September this year, as the board set about appointing a complaints committee and a chief executive.

An IPSO spokesman said members of the new regulator will be named in due course on the IPSO website, along with the contacts at each member publication, intended to be the first port of call for complaints.

All national newspaper publishers have signed up to the IPSO with the exception of the FT (which says it will regulate itself in future) and Guardian

News and Media, and the Independent titles (which are yet to decide whether to join or not).

The IPSO has also said it will consider “how best to create an arbitration service”.

A key recommendation of the Leveson report was the creation of a libel-disputes arm, which has been resisted by the regional press because they fear it will encourage more libel payouts.

Sir Alan Moses said: “I am delighted to have the chance to work with such a talented group of independent-minded people, committed to provide rigorous and strong  regulation. Now we must start our work of preparation. We plan to use the coming period to listen and engage with the public, experts and the industry before IPSO’s official launch in September. This will be a new era of self-regulation of our newspapers, ready to provide the independent regulation to which the public is entitled.”

In a statement on behalf of the Society of Editors following the announcement of the IPSO board Bob Satchwell, Executive Director of the Society of Editors, said: “The independent appointment panel has succeeded in selecting a list of impressive individuals from a wide variety of backgrounds. We should be grateful that they volunteered for the important task of leading the powerful new body under the chairmanship of Sir Alan Moses that will help maintain high standards in the Press. Their qualifications and independence are clear. IPSO can now go forward to earn the confidence of the public, remembering the importance of a vigorous free Press that is a vital component of any democratic society.”