WIREDGOV

The Prime Minister, David Cameron, has appointed John Steele to serve a second term of two years as chairman of the Armed Forces’ Pay Review Body (AFPRB) from March 2016.

The AFPRB provides independent advice to the Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Defence on the remuneration and charges for members of the Armed Forces.

Mr Steele was first appointed to the AFPRB in 2009 as a member and then appointed as chairman in 2013. He is one of the longest serving members of the AFPRB and has participated in six pay award reports, encompassing a significant period of change for Armed Forces personnel, and has accumulated a detailed knowledge of personnel policy.

In a corporate career spanning 40 years, Mr Steele has a wealth of experience in the field of Human Resources, working for major companies such as IBM and BT. As part of his responsibilities as BT’s Group Personnel Director, he was involved with a number of other private and public organisations and had board membership of AON HR Services, Business in the Community and the Teacher Training Authority, among others.

He was also a council member of Acas (1999-2005), IMD business school, the Institute of Employment Studies and the Association of MBAs, as well as being a member of the Employers’ Steering Group advising the Government on work-life balance.

Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said:

I am pleased to announce that the Prime Minister has invited John Steele to continue to serve as the chairman of the AFPRB, for a further two-year term.

The Government attaches considerable importance to the work of the AFPRB and I am very grateful to Mr Steele for agreeing to extend his time in this key role.

All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. AFPRB is an advisory non-departmental public body, sponsored by the Ministry of Defence.