Latest civil service & public affairs moves – July 28

UK government

• Department for Business and Trade: Companies House – Andy King appointed as chief executive from September
• Cabinet Office: Advisory Committee on Business Appointments – Acoba will close on 13 October and will transfer its function to provide independent advice on the application of the Business Appointment Rules in respect of the most senior civil servants and special advisers to the Civil Service Commission. ACOBA’s function to provide independent advice in respect of former ministers will be transferred to the prime minister’s independent adviser on ministerial standards, Sir Laurie Magnus, who already provides independent advice to the prime minister on adherence to the ministerial code and to individual ministers on the appropriate management of their private interests while in office. Ethics and Integrity Commission – The Commission will be established by strengthening and reforming the Committee on Standards in Public Life – with a new obligation to report annually to the prime minister on the overall health of the standards system and a new function of regular engagement with public sector bodies to assist them in the development of clear codes of conduct with effective oversight arrangements. Lt Gen Doug Chalmers to be appointed as chair.
• Department for Culture, Media and Sport: UK Anti-Doping – Simon Lewis appointed as chair for four years from 4 August. Ministry of Defence: Armed Forces’ Pay Review Body – Emma Boggis re-appointed as public sector member for three years until 31 May 2029; Gillian Fairfield re-appointed as public sector member for three years from 15 February 2026 until 14 February 2029. Defence Medical Services – Brigadier Phil Carter appointed as surgeon general, in the rank of major general, from August; Brigadier Antony Finn appointed as director medical personnel and training, in the rank of major general, from November; Air Commodore Darren Ellison appointed as director defence healthcare, in the rank of Air Vice-Marshal, from June 2026.
• Department for Education: Engineering Construction Industry Training Board – Lynda Armstrong re-appointed as chair for two years from 1 January 2026. Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Civil Nuclear Police Authority – John Campbell appointed as non-executive director for three years. Climate Change Committee – Nigel Topping appointed as chair from 23 July
• Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew – Dame Dervilla Mitchell and Dr Fiona Pathiraja appointed as trustees for four years; Sarah Greasley appointed as trustee for four years from 1 October; Steve Almond and Kate Priestman re-appointed as trustees for four years from 2 October until 1 October 2029.
• Department of Health and Social Care: UK Health Security Agency – Professor Robin May appointed as interim chief scientific officer for one year from 22 September.
• Home Office – Dr Marc Bailey appointed as forensic science regulator for England and Wales from 25 July. Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government: Birmingham City Council – Tony McArdle appointed as lead commissioner, following the retirement of Max Caller. Combatting Hate Against Muslims Fund – British Muslim Trust appointed as partner to monitor and tackle anti-Muslim hatred. Shabir Randeree to be appointed as chair of the board of directors. 
• Ministry of Justice – Sir James Dingemans appointed as senior president of tribunals. Criminal Procedure Rule Committee – Bartholomew Dalton appointed as Solicitor Member for four years from 1 September.
• Department for Science, Innovation and Technology: Office for Life Sciences – Steve Bates appointed as executive chair.
• HM Treasury: National Saving & Investment – Lord Lemos stood down as chair on 23 July, following his appointment as a government whip in the House of Lords. UK Government Investments – Charles Donald to stand down as chief executive in early 2026.
• Non-Ministerial Departments: Government Actuary's Department – Gary Crowe appointed as non-executive director. Ofqual – Chris Paterson and Cindy Leslie re-appointed as board members for three years; Hardip Begol and Clare Pelham re-appointed as board members for two years; Mark Farrar re-appointed as board member for one year; Susan Barratt re-appointed as board member for two years from 1 September; Matt Tee’s term as board member extended for four months from 1 September

Devolved Administrations

Scottish Government

• Scottish Charity Regulator – Kirsten Howie and William Maxwell re-appointed as members for four years until 31 March 2029.
• Water Industry Commission for Scotland Board – Morag Sheppard’s term as interim member extended for three months until 15 October.

Welsh Government

• Sir Wayne David to stand down as chief special adviser on 25 July.
• Jacqueline Totterdell appointed as chief executive, NHS Wales, and director general for health, social care and early years from the end of September.
• Northern Ireland Executive Construction Industry Training Board Northern Ireland – Geraldine Gordon, Gerard Graham, Lynsey Graham, Ciara King, Duane McCreadie, Noel McKee, Julie McKeown, Jonathan Payne, Kevin Smyth and Shauna Young re-appointed as employer representatives for three years from 18 July until 17 July 2028.
• Drainage Council NI – Jim Martin appointed as non-executive member for four years; Maureen Brunt and Dr Alex McGarel re-appointed as non-executive members for four years. Invest Northern Ireland – Dominic Darby, Melanie Dawson, Dawn McLaughlin, Ciaran Mulgrew, Patrick O’Gorman, Julie-Ann O’Hare and Scott Ritchie re-appointed to the board for three years.
• Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland – David Nichol and Carolyn Scott appointed as members to the board for four years from 18 July.

Parties

Conservative Party

Full details of the reshuffle can be found here.

Welsh Conservative Party

• Laura Anne Jones defected from Welsh Conservatives to Reform UK on 22 July. Was shadow cabinet secretary for local government, housing and the Armed Forces.
• Reshuffle: Joel James appointed as shadow cabinet secretary for local government and housing. Was previously shadow cabinet secretary for children, young people, mental health and wellbeing. James Evans appointed as shadow cabinet secretary for the Armed Forces. Continues as shadow cabinet secretary for health and social care. Natasha Asghar appointed as shadow cabinet secretary for children and young people. Continues as shadow cabinet secretary for education.
• Your Party: Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana are to launch a new political party – currently it does not have an official name. An inaugural conference will determine the party's policies and name, this is expected in the autumn.

Local authorities

• Councils Hounslow Council – Mandy Skinner appointed as chief executive.
• Warwickshire County Council – George Finch (Reform UK) appointed as permanent council leader

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