Press release

New Chair for Marine Management Organisation

Sir William (Bill) Callaghan has been appointed Chair of the Marine Management Organisation (MMO).

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Sir William (Bill) Callaghan has been appointed Chair of the Marine Management Organisation (MMO), the body responsible for managing England’s marine resources, by Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman.

Sir Bill will chair the Board, which oversees the strategic direction of the MMO, from 1 May 2011 for three years. He will be paid £110,000 a year pro rata, based on eight days work a month.

This appointment has been made by the Secretary of State in accordance with guidance issued by the Office for the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The Commissioner is independent of the Government and was appointed to follow up certain recommendations of the Nolan Committee. The intention of the Code is to provide an efficient and transparent appointments system in which both candidates and the public can have confidence.

All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for the political activities of appointees to be made public. Sir Bill Callaghan has not declared any political activity.

The Secretary of State thanked Dr Derek Langslow, who has been Acting Chair of the MMO since December 2010, for his calm and authoritative leadership.

Notes to Editors

Biographical details:

After nearly 30 years service with the TUC, Sir Bill became Chair of the Health and Safety Commission in 1999.He served as a founder member of the Low Pay Commission from 1997 to 2000. In 2007, he led a review into the regulation of animal pathogens for Defra. He was an independent member of the Joint Negotiating Committee for Higher Education Staff review of higher education finance and pay data from October 2007 to December 2008. He became Chair of the Legal Services Commission in 2008 (a Ministerial Public Appointment with remuneration of £54,000 pa). He is also a Magistrate and has recently been appointed Chair of the National Examination Board for Occupational Safety and Health (an educational charity).

The MMO (http://www.marinemanagement.org.uk/) contributes to the achievement of sustainable development by bringing together delivery of a number of marine functions within a single independent body. It carries out a wide range of activities such as marine planning, licensing, work related to nature conservation and fisheries management.

Published 28 April 2011