19.11.07
New chairman of English Partnerships appointed
On 14th November Housing and Planning Minister Yvette Cooper announced the appointment of Robert Napier as the new Chairman of national regeneration agency English Partnerships.
He will take up the post from 1 January 2008 and will chair English Partnerships until the launch of the new Homes and Communities Agency, the new agency that will deliver new homes and develop mixed, sustainable communities across England from 2009.
The agency will bring together the functions of English Partnerships, the Housing Corporation and a range of work carried out by the Department for Communities and Local Government, including delivery in the areas of decent homes, housing market renewal, housing PFI, housing growth and urban regeneration.
Yvette Cooper said:
"I am very pleased that Robert has agreed to accept this very challenging role at English Partnerships during this important transition period in the lead up to the launch of the Homes and Communities Agency. He has great wealth of skills and experience, making him the right person to lead EP during this time of considerable change".
She also paid tribute to the outgoing Chair of English Partnerships, Margaret Ford, saying:
"Margaret Ford has made an invaluable contribution to housing and regeneration across the country in the last five years, building English Partnerships into a successful, effective organisation. I wish her well for the future."
Commenting on the announcement of his appointment, Robert Napier said:
"English Partnerships has much to deliver between now and the establishment of the Homes and Communities Agency. I look forward, as the new Chairman, to working with the English Partnerships Board, Chief Executive and the management to achieve our targets."
Biography
Robert Napier is Chairman of the Board of the Met office. He was Chief Executive of WWF-UK, the UK arm of the World Wide Fund for Nature from 1999 to April 2007. Before that he spent 16 years at Redland plc, where he was successively Financial Director, Managing Director and Chief Executive.
Robert is currently a Non-Executive Director of Anglian Water Services. He is a former Non-Executive Director of Rentokil Initial plc and United Biscuits plc. He was formerly Chairman of the CBI Transport Policy Committee and President of the National Council of Building Material Producers.
Robert's community activities include being Chairman of the Governors of Sedbergh School and a Trustee of Baynards Zambia Trust. He is also a trustee of the Carbon Disclosure Project.
Tell us what you think – have your say below, or email us directly at [email protected]