The new director general of the UK Border Force is Sir Charles Montgomery. He previously served in the Royal Navy, attaining the rank of vice admiral as second sea lord and chief of naval personnel and training. He has also commanded the frigate HMS Beaver, headed the Maritime Warfare School, been the Navy’s chief of staff (personnel), and worked as the underwater warfare and operations officer on HMS Amazon.
The chief executive of the Big Lottery Fund, Peter Wanless, is leaving to become chief executive of children’s charity the NSPCC. He departs in June after five years in the role. Previously, as a civil servant, he held roles including a series of senior education posts and head of the Private Finance Unit at the Treasury.
Ernest Vincent is to step down as chief executive of The Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre on March 31. The centre is owned by the communities department, and operates as a trading fund. Vincent joined in 2003, and has had a 35-year career in the exhibition and events industry.
The Department for Transport has appointed an interim franchising director, Peter Wilkinson, following its failure to properly let the West Coast Mainline franchise. Wilkinson has worked on the privatisation of British Rail’s train operating units, led franchise procurements for the Strategic Rail Authority, and was recently a commercial adviser to Richard Brown’s 2012 review of franchising.
The new political director of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is Simon Gass. He replaces Mark Sedwill, who has now been appointed permanent secretary of the Home Office. Gass was previously senior civilian representative in Afghanistan, and has also been ambassador to Tehran and Athens. He has had a long career in the diplomatic service, serving in Europe and North Africa.
