Committee publication · Correspondence · 10 April 2025

Correspondence from the Secretary of State regarding the recruitment of the Chair of the Environment Agency, dated 3 April 2025

From: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

Inquiry: Work of the Department and its arm’s-length bodies

Summary

Secretary of State Steve Reed notifies the EFRA and EAC committees of an imminent recruitment campaign for a new Chair of the Environment Agency. The letter sets out the selection process, essential criteria, and timeline: advert launch at Easter recess, preferred candidate announcement before Summer recess, and pre-appointment scrutiny hearing scheduled for September. The role emphasizes environmental protection, delivering efficiencies, and leading organizational evolution.

Key findings

No executive search firm will be used; a search committee will review candidates to ensure diversity and quality
Essential criteria include knowledge of the Environment Agency, stakeholder engagement skills, strategic leadership experience, sound judgment, commercial acumen, and integrity
Role requires proven leadership at national scale across private, public, or voluntary sectors, with experience managing major infrastructure projects or large service delivery
Chair must balance environmental goals with government growth mission, drive efficiency within constrained fiscal environment, and lead the EA's digital transformation
Recruitment timeline: advert live Easter recess, preferred candidate announced before Summer recess, pre-appointment scrutiny hearing in September

Tone

Procedural

Topics

public-appointmentsenvironment-regulationflood-defencegovernance

Key actors

Steve Reed, Alistair Carmichael, Toby Perkins, Environment Agency, Defra Group, Cabinet Office, Lords Environment and Climate Change Committee

Notable line

“I am seeking a new Chair who will be passionate about protecting the environment, delivering efficiencies and ready to lead the EA on to the next stage in its evolution.”

Key Quotes

“I intend to shortly launch a recruitment campaign for a new Chair of the Environment Agency”
— Steve Reed · Opening statement of purpose

“No executive search will be used, but a search committee will be formed to review the emerging candidate field to ensure it is sufficiently diverse and high-quality.”
— Steve Reed · Describing recruitment methodology

“My intention is for the advert to go live at the start of Easter recess and announce my preferred candidate before Summer recess.”
— Steve Reed · Setting out recruitment timeline

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Source · parliament.uk record ↗