Richard Judge, currently chief executive of the Insolvency Service, has been chosen to head up the Health & Safety Executive.
Dr Judge will start his new role as HSE chief executive in November 2014.
He will take over from Kevin Myers, who has been acting chief executive since August 2013 when Geoffrey Podger stepped down after eight years in the role.
Dr Judge is a fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Before joining the Insolvency Service in July 2012 he had a varied career in science and technology organisations spanning the nuclear, rail and environmental sectors. Between 2007 and 2012 he was chief executive of the Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science, an agency of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.
HSE chair Judith Hackitt said: “I am delighted to welcome Richard as our new chief executive and look forward to working with him. His valuable, considerable experience in both the public and private sector is a perfect fit for HSE, enabling us to take forward our commercial agenda whilst also ensuring we can build on our standing as a world-class regulator of workplace health and safety.”
Dr Judge said: “This is a great opportunity to lead the executive of a renowned and respected regulator that will soon celebrate its 40th year. I look forward to working with my new HSE colleagues, and with everyone who has a stake in delivering further improvements in Britain’s health and safety performance.”
