Committee publication · Correspondence · 18 June 2026
Letter from from the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs relating to the recruitment of the new Chair of the Environment Agency, 9 June 2026
Summary
Secretary of State Emma Reynolds notifies the Environmental Audit Committee of an imminent recruitment campaign for a new Chair of the Environment Agency. The role requires proven senior leadership in large, complex organisations, with expertise in change management, stakeholder engagement, and commercial acumen. An executive search firm will be commissioned; the advert launches within two weeks, with a preferred candidate announced by early November and pre-appointment scrutiny hearing to follow.
Key findings
- New Environment Agency Chair recruitment to launch within two weeks, with candidate selection by early November 2026
- Six essential criteria defined: Strategic Leadership, Change Management, Stakeholder Engagement, Judgement, Commercial and Financial Acumen, and Integrity and Governance
- Executive search firm will be commissioned to ensure broad, diverse candidate pool; vacancy advertised on Cabinet Office public appointments website and promoted via departmental and external channels
- Chair must lead Environment Agency through period of significant change, including creation of new integrated water regulator, while maintaining service delivery under fiscal constraints
- Pre-appointment scrutiny hearing to be scheduled with Environmental Audit Committee following preferred candidate announcement
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Emma Reynolds, Toby Perkins, Alistair Carmichael, Environment Agency, Environmental Audit Committee, Cabinet Office
Notable line
“I am seeking a new Chair who is passionate about protecting and improving the environment through effective regu- lation while supporting sustainable development and the Government's growth mis- sion.”
Key Quotes
“I intend to shortly launch a recruitment campaign for a new Chair of the Environment Agency.”
“… this is a significant role in terms of scale and com- plexity which requires a proven leader with specialised experience and expertise.”
“My intention is for the advert to go live in two weeks time and announce my preferred candidate by early November.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗