Agency announces structural changes

20 Nov 2009 04:32 PM

The Food Standards Agency today announced a series of changes in the way it is structured to better support its strategy for the next five years.

The previously announced merger of the FSA and MHS into a single, stronger organisation, together with the creation of the new Operations Group and the drive for reduced administrative duplication, will result in a more effective and capable agency that can deliver the 2010-2015 strategic plan. As a result of the merger, the Agency is currently undergoing a considerable period of change and development and the directors have now decided that in order to complete this reorganisation, there will be a more explicit distinction between our policy and operations activities.

Significantly, but separately, two of our long-serving directors have indicated that they wish to make changes to their lives. After five successful years leading the Consumer Choice and Dietary Health Group, Gill Fine has decided to retire from the Agency in April 2010. Andrew Wadge has asked to relinquish the role of Director of Food Safety and will concentrate on his work as the Agency’s Chief Scientist, working three days a week, effective from April 2010.

Taken together, these factors present an opportunity for the Agency to combine these policy areas into one directorate, and will result in the creation of a new post – Director of Policy – which will oversee all policy development.

We will also be advertising for a new Director of Operations to oversee our new Operations Group. We anticipate that the Director of Policy and the Director of Operations roles will both be advertised in The Sunday Times on 29 November.

The appointment process for the Director of Corporate Services who will oversee our corporate services across the UK is under way. These three directors will work with Terrence Collis, our Director of Communications and Andrew Wadge, our Chief Scientist. This team will be responsible for the UK-wide FSA, working with directors of the devolved nations, whose national responsibilities remain unchanged.