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Committee publication · Correspondence · 18 June 2026

Letter from Rt Hon Darren Jones MP, Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on Government's preferred candidate for Commissioner for Public Appointments, dated 9.6.26

From: Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee

Inquiry: Pre-appointment Hearing: The Commissioner for Public Appointments

Summary

Darren Jones informs the PACAC that the Prime Minister's preferred candidate for Commissioner for Public Appointments is Fiona Cannon OBE, following Sir William Shawcross's early departure. Cannon is Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer at Yorkshire Building Society with prior roles in sustainability, inclusion and diversity. The appointment process attracted 71 applications; three candidates were deemed appointable, and Cannon was selected by the Prime Minister.

Key findings

  • Sir William Shawcross CVO to step down before his September end of term as Commissioner for Public Appointments
  • Fiona Cannon OBE is the Prime Minister's preferred candidate for the role
  • Appointment process received 71 applications; four candidates interviewed on 12 and 18 May 2026; three found appointable
  • Cannon's career includes Chief Strategy and Sustainability Officer at Yorkshire Building Society, Sustainability Lead for the Royal Household, and Inclusion and Diversity Director at Lloyds Banking Group
  • Formal public announcement forthcoming; Committee requested to maintain discretion prior to announcement

Tone

Procedural

Topics

public-appointmentsconstitutional-affairsparliamentary-scrutiny

Key actors

Darren Jones, Simon Hoare, Fiona Cannon, Sir William Shawcross, Prime Minister, Yorkshire Building Society, Lloyds Banking Group

Notable line

“… the Prime Minister's preferred candidate for this role is Fiona Cannon OBE.”

Key Quotes

“| am pleased to be able to confirm, in confidence, that the Prime Minister's preferred candidate for this role is Fiona Cannon OBE.”
— Darren Jones · announcing the appointment preference
“The Panel found three candidates appointable, and the Prime Minister selected one of these as his preferred candidate.”
— Darren Jones · describing the selection process
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Source · parliament.uk record ↗