Environment Secretary Owen Paterson has today (9 January) announced that Andrew Sells is to take up the role of Chairman of Natural England from 20 January.
The appointment follows on from the November announcement that Sells was the preferred candidate to lead the executive non-departmental public body responsible for ‘protecting and improving England’s natural environment and encouraging people to enjoy and get involved in their surroundings’.
Sells will replace outgoing Chairman, Poul Christensen CBE, whose three-year tenure ended on 31 December. David Hill, Natural England’s Deputy Chair, will stand in as Acting Chair until Sells takes up his post.
Working two days per week, the chairman’s role includes:
- chairing the board and managing the business of the board;
- providing counsel, advice and support to the chief executive and executive team;
- overseeing and making a ‘strong contribution’ to the development of Natural England's corporate strategy; and
- being the ‘principal public face’ representing Natural England.
Sells will receive a salary of £142,000 pro rata for the role.
Environment Secretary Owen Paterson said: “This is an incredibly important role which carries significant responsibilities. I am delighted to have confirmed Mr Andrew Sells as Chairman of Natural England and I look forward to him bringing his particular skills and insights to the board.”
The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee has said Sells has the ‘professional competence and personal independence required for the post of Chairman of Natural England’ and will be ‘well placed’ to lead the organisation (which recently outlined how it will ‘work more closely together’ with the Environment Agency to ‘do more for people and the environment’).
About Sells
Sells is a chartered accountant and has previously held the position of Chairman at the Garden Centre Group (formerly Wyevale), been a trustee with the Royal Horticultural Society and the Policy Exchange (since 2007), and is currently Chairing a Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) task force on a one-year pro bono contract looking at ways of improving the efficiency of the DWP’s Work Programme.
His father was a conservationist who built the original lakes for the RSPB at Sandy, and later restored the water gardens at Balmoral and Capability Brown’s lakes at Stowe.
As part of the appointment process, Sells has publically declared that he has made donations to the Conservative Party. However, Defra has said that ‘all appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process’.
Read more about Natural England.
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