Neil Hornby has been appointed as the next Chief Executive of
Natural England.
This follows a recruitment exercise conducted by Natural
England's board and with approval by the Defra Secretary of
State.
Neil will officially join Natural England in the
autumn, ensuring a smooth transition following Marian Spain's
retirement. He is currently Chief Executive of Cefas
(Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science).
He joins Natural England at a pivotal time, as
the organisation continues to implement its new
strategy: Recovering Nature for Growth, Health and Security,
working on the Nature Restoration Fund, Landscape Recovery and
other major projects.
Neil Hornby said:
Natural England has a vital mission: championing nature for the
benefit of our health, wellbeing, and economy.
It's a huge honour to be able to build on Marian's
impressive legacy and the successes of Natural
England in restoring nature, unlocking sustainable growth,
and ensuring that everyone, wherever they live, can benefit from
nature.
Environment Secretary, said:
Marian has been an exceptional leader and has taken Natural
England from strength to strength.
I have the utmost confidence that Neil will build on those
strengths and lead the organisation in delivering its mission to
restore our natural environment while unlocking economic growth
across the country.
Chair of Natural England, Tony Juniper
said:
I am delighted that Neil will be joining Natural
England at such a crucial time for the
organisation.
Having seen his achievements at Cefas and at the Rural Payments
Agency, I have no doubt that Natural England will benefit
from his vast expertise and experience.
Neil Hornby Biography:
-
Neil is the Chief Executive of the Centre for Environment,
Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) in January 2026, a
role he has held since February 2021.
-
He was appointed the Rural Payments Agency's (RPA) Interim
Chief Executive Officer between June 2025 and
January 2026.
-
Prior to this, he held a number of senior positions within
central government, most recently as Director of Marine and
Fisheries at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural
Affairs (Defra). His earlier roles included leading areas
such as flood policy and nuclear energy.
Notes to Editors:
-
Natural England is the government's adviser for the natural
environment in England.
-
Marian Spain has served as Chief Executive of Natural England
since 2018. She will remain in post until her retirement in
autumn 2026.
-
The recruitment was carried in line with Civil Service
recruitment principles of open and fair competition.
