Ephraim Mirvis will become the UK's next chief rabbi, it was announced.
He will succeed Lord Sacks, who steps down in September next year after 22 years in his role as figurehead of British Jews.
The Chief Rabbinate Trust said in a statement last night: "The Chief Rabbinate Trust can this evening confirm that the Consultative Group has endorsed a recommendation by the Working Group to appoint Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, as the eleventh Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth, subject to appropriate contractual agreement."
The chief rabbi is the head of the United Synagogue, the largest group of Orthodox Jews in the the UK.
Mr Mirvis, who was born in South Africa and is married with four children, is a senior rabbi at Finchley Synagogue in London and was previously chief rabbi of Ireland.
