The Northern Ireland Policing Board has appointed the head of its Serious Crime Division, Drew Harris, to the number two position in the PSNI.
The new Deputy Chief Constable was one of two internal candidates who applied for the vacancy.
A Sinn Féin member of the policing board, Caitríona Ruane, withdrew from the selection panel yesterday, claiming the recruitment process may be flawed.
This claim was rejected by other board members.
In his role as a PSNI Assistant Chief Constable, Mr Harris gave evidence to the Smithwick Tribunal in Dublin.
His father, RUC Superintendant Alwyn Harris, died from injuries received when the IRA placed a bomb under his car in 1989.
His mother was injured in the attack at a housing estate in Lisburn.
The other candidate interviewed for the vacancy was Assistant Chief Constable Will Kerr.
