WIREDGOV

Defra appoints Rear Admiral Tom Karsten as new Chief Executive of Cefas.

Following the retirement of Mike Waldock in June of this year, Defra has appointed Rear Admiral Tom Karsten as the Chief Executive of Cefas. Tom takes up the role, on leaving the Royal Navy, from 7th September.

Tom has a broad maritime background with command roles in the South Atlantic, Far East, Gulf and Mediterranean. In 2007 he was promoted to Commodore serving as Navy Command’s Deputy Commander Operations. This was followed by a year at Oxford University as the Royal Navy’s Senior Hudson Fellow researching Arctic geopolitics. In 2010 he was appointed as Commander British Forces Gibraltar, serving on the Rock for two years. Promoted to Rear Admiral in December 2012, he is currently the UK National Hydrographer and Deputy CEO at the UK Hydrographic Office where he leads a wide-ranging international engagement and capacity building programme alongside extensive commercial negotiations for the supply of global hydrographic data.

Tom said:

“I am absolutely delighted to be joining Cefas at a key stage in its development. In particular, I am much looking forward to the opportunity to grow Cefas’ business both in UK and overseas and to raising its profile as the UK’s leading marine science agency.”

The recruitment process was led by Betsy Bassis, Director General and Chief Operating Officer at Defra.

Betsy said:

”I am delighted to appoint Tom Karsten as Chief Executive of Cefas. Tom brings with him a wealth of operational and commercial experience that will be critical in delivering Cefas’ strategic growth plans. The Cefas Board and I look forward to welcoming Tom in September. ”

Mike Waldock added his congratulations to Tom saying:

“Cefas is unique in the UK with a cadre of world-class scientists and technologists. As the foremost marine and freshwater Agency in the UK we have an unrivalled track record of providing advice to Government. The professionalism and enthusiasm of all of our people is exceptional. I have spent a long and rewarding career in the organisation and it has been a privilege to lead it for the last three years as Chief Executive“