Since March 2001, Mike Whiting and Neil Carrigan have been acting as joint chief executives and although Entrust interviewed for a new chief executive in the autumn, nobody was appointed. Entrust has now appointed Roger Hyde, 58, as its interim chief executive.
Stephen Newton, a spokesman for Entrust, said: “We are working in quite an unstable environment, we know that there will be radical reform and we are waiting for DEFRA to publish its consultation document, which Michael Meacher said would be published at the end of last year.”
Mr Newton explained that Entrust hoped that the consultation would be “imminent” and said that the uncertainty over the future role of the regulator had had an impact on the appointment of chief executive. He said: “We did vow to make a permanent appointment but didn't find the person we were looking for. We do envisage filling the role permanently.” He added: “We owe a deed of gratitude to the acting chief executives for their hard work.”
Fresh
Mr Newton said that Mr Hyde will bring a fresh perspective to the role and will play an important part in re-defining the role of chief executive which should lead to a clearer brief for his successor. Mr Hyde will also continue implementing the company’s new three-year corporate plan.
Mr Hyde takes up his position today (14 January) and will stay in post for the next three months. Mr Hyde, who retired in August 2001, was previously regional director of the Environment Agency North East Region. He also spent four years with the National Rivers Authority as regional general manager for the North East and was a non-executive director of the Ponds Conservation Trust and the Earth Centre, both of which have been landfill tax credit scheme funded.
On his appointment, Mr Hyde said: “It has been a challenging year for the landfill tax credits scheme. But there is no doubting that Entrust has a strong team in place and has established a regulatory regime that fully meets the requirements of the landfill tax credit scheme.”
Chairman of Entrust, Lord Cranbrook, said: “With a financial background and considerable regulatory experience, Roger has much to bring to Entrust. He will bring an additional external perspective to a strong management team. The regulatory function of Entrust continues uninterrupted.”
In line with Entrust's recent adoption of the Nolan Principles on Standards in Public Life, which has seen the company adopt a more open way of working, Entrust has said that Mr Hyde will be paid 20,000 for the three months work.
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