HM Land Registry has appointed Iain Banfield as its permanent chief executive.
Banfield has been interim chief exec at HMLR since Simon Hayes left the role a year ago to lead Sports England. Before taking on the interim role, Banfield was chief financial officer at HMLR.
Banfield will formally take on the role of chief exec at the non-ministerial department in September. The appointment has been approved following an open and fair recruitment process.
HMLR non-executive chair Neil Sachdev said Banfield, a career civil servant for 25 years, “brings with him a wealth of experience from his previous roles”.
“I believe he is the right person to lead HM Land Registry through the next phase of its transformation, continuing to improve customer service, modernise the organisation and support the government’s ambitions for housing and economic growth,” he added.
“I would also like to thank colleagues across HM Land Registry whose professionalism, commitment and dedication have enabled the organisation to make strong progress over the past year.”
Banfield said he is “delighted” to be appointed to the role, “having been honoured to serve” as interim chief exec over the last year.
“I look forward to working with everyone across the sector and within the organisation as we continue on our transformation journey, improving services for customers, working closely with our partners across the property sector, and delivering lasting benefits for all our partners,” he added.
Before joining HMLR in 2019, Banfield spent two-and-a-half years at the Department for International Trade, first as deputy director for strategic finance and then as acting finance director.
His quarter century in the civil service so far includes spells in the Department for International Trade, UK Trade & Investment and Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.