Former Labor attorney general and federal court judge Robert McClelland has been named as the new boss of the National Anti-Corruption Commission.

McClelland was the country’s top law officer in the Rudd government, serving from 2007 until 2011. He has served as the deputy chief justice of the federal circuit and family court of Australia since 2018, and was appointed to the court by the Coalition in 2015.

Paul Brereton, the first boss of the commission, quit in May, saying criticism of him was “drawing attention away” from the body’s purpose.

The attorney general, Michelle Rowland, said on Monday McClelland had been chosen through an open, competitive and merit-based selection process.

Christopher Savundra has been named as the Nacc’s new deputy commissioner.

“I congratulate deputy chief justice McClelland and Mr Savundra on their proposed appointments,” Rowland said.

“Deputy chief Justice McClelland and Mr Savundra’s expertise will be an asset to the commission, and I have confidence in their ability to contribute to its important work to enhance integrity across the Commonwealth public sector.”

McClelland and Savundra will begin five-year terms on 11 January next year.

The Parliamentary Joint Committee on the National Anti-Corruption Commission signed off on the appointments, as required by legislation governing the commission’s work.

Rowland said both candidates received unanimous support from the committee.

The selection panel included attorney-general’s department secretary, Katherine Jones, former Federal Court judge Raymond Finkelstein, and Australian Competition and Consumer Commission boss, Gina Cass-Gottlieb.