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Committee publication · Correspondence · 18 November 2025

Correspondence from Mary Creagh, Minister for Nature, regarding the upcoming recruitment campaign for a new Chair of the Office for Environmental Protection, dated 14 November 2025

From: Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

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

Summary

Minister for Nature Mary Creagh notifies parliamentary committees of an imminent recruitment campaign for a new Chair of the Office for Environmental Protection. The campaign will launch within a week, with a preferred candidate announced by end-January 2026, followed by pre-appointment scrutiny. The role demands leadership of a complex regulatory organisation with statutory environmental protection responsibilities.

Key findings

  • Recruitment campaign for OEP Chair to launch within one week, with preferred candidate announced by 31 January 2026
  • Essential criteria include understanding of OEP's statutory remit, proven leadership in complex regulatory organisations, and ability to maintain OEP independence while building stakeholder relationships
  • Desirable criterion includes experience in economic policy and infrastructure development to support government's sustainable growth agenda
  • No executive search firm will be used; role will be publicised via Cabinet Office Public Appointment website and social media
  • Pre-appointment scrutiny hearing scheduled post-candidate announcement, subject to committee agreement

Tone

Procedural

Topics

governanceenvironmental-protectionpublic-appointmentsregulatory-bodies

Key actors

Mary Creagh CBE MP, Alistair Carmichael, Toby Perkins, Office for Environmental Protection, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Notable line

“This is therefore a high-profile and influential role, demanding an outstanding leader with the authority, expertise and integrity to champion environmental standards and drive lasting …”

Key Quotes

“I intend to shortly launch a recruitment campaign for a new Chair of the Office for Environ- mental Protection”
— Mary Creagh CBE MP · Opening statement of recruitment intention
“My intention is for the advert to go live in a week's time and announce a preferred candidate before the end of January”
— Mary Creagh CBE MP · Timeline for recruitment process
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Source · parliament.uk record ↗