Simpson Thacher & Bartlett has appointed veteran corporate partner William Dougherty its new leader, replacing Philip Ruegger as chair of the firm’s executive committee.

New York-based Dougherty, who made partner at the firm in 1995, was first elected to the executive committee in 2008, and acted as co-administrative partner between 2009 and 2012. He also spent five years on the new partners committee, subsequently serving as chair.