In July, 1996, Prof Tom Sherwood, formerly dean of the Medical School at the University of Cambridge, became The Lancet's first ombudsman—indeed, the first ombudsman of any medical journal. For over 4 years, he has investigated “episodes of alleged editorial maladministration when a complainant remains dissatisfied with the journal's first response to criticism”. 1 Horton R The Lancet's ombudsman. Lancet. 1996; 348: 6 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF Scopus (25) Google Scholar The ombudsman's brief had been wide, extending to subscription and advertising concerns and, on occasion, to acting as a point of referral when the journal's integrity is called into question. 2 Sherwood T Ombudsman's second report, and tobacco. Lancet. 1998; 352: 7-8 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (4) Google Scholar Despite early criticism, 3 Albert T Why bother with peer review?. Lancet. 1997; 350: 822 Summary Full Text Full Text PDF Google Scholar editorially we judge the idea of ombudsman to have been valuable to our work. 4 Horton R The journal ombudsperson. JAMA. 1998; 280: 298-299 Crossref PubMed Scopus (18) Google Scholar With Tom Sherwood's second retirement from The Lancet—he was, until 1996, a member of the journal's International Advisory Board—we thank him for his commitment to the journal, his impartiality, and his honest criticism. And we now welcome his successor, Prof Richard Carter, formerly of the Institute of Cancer Research and Royal Marsden Hospital, London. Authors and readers can contact him through our London and New York offices.