Chief Executive and Director profiles

Tim Smith took up post as Chief Executive of the Food Standards Agency on 1 April 2008.

Tim Smith is the former Chief Executive of Arla Foods UK plc. The company, which is responsible for a number of major food brands, is now part of Arla Foods amba, Europe's largest dairy manufacturer. He was appointed Chief Executive of Arla Foods in early 2005.

Tim Smith graduated from Leeds University with a degree in microbiology and zoology. He has spent his entire career in the food business: from 1979 to 1994 he was at Northern Foods, finishing his career there as a Divisional Director. After five years at Sara Lee Corporation, where he was President of UK operations, he joined Express Dairies plc as Executive Director. Express Dairies merged with Arla Foods in October 2003.

Steve is a scientist by training, with a degree in biochemistry and a spell of post-graduate research in molecular biology. Steve then joined the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in 1990 and held a range of posts in food science and food policy development, before transferring to the Food Standards Agency when it was launched in 2000. His first post in the Agency was head of the Private Office and Private Secretary to the first Chair of the FSA, Sir John Krebs (now Lord Krebs).

Steve is also the Director of FSA Wales.

Dr Andrew Wadge was formerly Head of the Agency's Chemical Safety and Toxicology Division working on issues including toxicology of food chemicals, allergy and food intolerance, food additives, contact materials, pesticides and veterinary medicine residues.

Originally working in academic research laboratories and Westminster Medical School, he has been a Government scientist since 1986 holding posts in the Department of Health, including work on the health effects of environmental pollution and then leading the Food Chemical Safety Unit with responsibility for the secretariat to the independent expert Committee on Toxicity.

Gill Fine joined the Food Standards Agency in October 2004 to take up the newly created post of Director of Consumer Choice and Dietary Health.

She is a public health nutritionist and has held a range of roles in both the public and private sectors. Before joining the FSA she was Head of Food and Health at Sainsbury's and was a member of the UK Government's Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition.

Vivienne Collett joined the Agency in February 2006 from the Treasury Solicitor's (TSol) Department, where she was head of the Public Law Litigation Division, conducting judicial review cases for the major Government departments. She is a solicitor and joined TSol as a commercial litigator from private practice. She has had a wide range of advisory jobs in TSol, working in the European Division and then advising the Treasury, Cabinet Office and Ministry of Defence in areas as diverse as employment and pensions, and defence procurement.

Terrence Collis joined the Agency in April 2006. Prior to that he worked in a range of media and communications roles, predominantly in the private sector, both in-house and on a consultancy basis. He is a former Director of Corporate Communications at National Westminster Bank and Director of Group Corporate Communications at Lloyds TSB.

He has extensive experience of public policy and political lobbying and has worked with a wide range of trade bodies and consumer organisations during his time in retail banking.

Charles Milne: Director of FSA Scotland

Professor Charles Milne was appointed Director at Food Standards Agency Scotland (FSAS), as successor to the current Dr George Paterson in June 2009.

Charles was the Chief Veterinary Officer in Scotland, a post he had held since 2003. He studied at the Royal Veterinary College, London, qualifying as a vet in 1985 and has wide experience of public veterinary service, including active involvement in national emergencies.

Charles started his career in private practice in Fife and joined the Scottish State Veterinary Service (SVS) in Perth in 1987. Charles was working with the SVS during the BSE crisis and also has direct experience of working in meat hygiene. In 1996 Charles took on the role of Veterinary Adviser to Scottish ministers and also worked at a national level. During this time he had responsibility for diverse areas, such as zoonotic diseases, international trade and animal welfare.

In 2001, during the foot and mouth outbreak, Charles played a key role in managing and delivering the control policies in Scotland with a team of 1,200 staff.

Steve Wearne: Director of FSA Wales

Steve Wearne was appointed Director of FSA Wales in October 2007. He succeeded Joy Whinney, who is taking a career break.

Steve is a scientist by training, with a degree in biochemistry and a spell of post-graduate research in molecular biology. Steve then joined the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in 1990 and held a range of posts in food science and food policy development, before transferring to the Food Standards Agency when it was launched in 2000. His first post in the Agency was head of the Private Office and Private Secretary to the first Chair of the FSA, Sir John Krebs (now Lord Krebs).

In 2003-2004, Steve served as Interim Director of FSA Wales for 14 months.

Gerry McCurdy: Director of FSA Northern Ireland

Gerry McCurdy was appointed the Director of the Food Standards Agency office in Northern Ireland in August 2008. Gerry's previous role was Deputy Director of FSANI.

Gerry was previously the Deputy Chief Environmental Health Officer at the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) before transferring to the FSA, where he had responsibility within the Chief Medical Officer's command for providing advice on a range of environmental health issues. He was previously with the Environmental Health Unit within the Department of Environment and before that worked in local government for Belfast City Council and Carrickfergus Borough Council.

Gerry qualified as an environmental health officer in 1978 and obtained an MSc in Environmental Health in 1990. He has over 30 years' experience in the profession, the last 15 being within central government. He has represented central government at various levels including European, UK, all-Ireland and locally. He also lectures at Queen's University on EU Food Law and EU structures.

Steve McGrath took up post as MHS Chief Executive on 22 January 2007. He has extensive leadership experience as a Board Director of a number of large organisations in the private and public sectors, focused on delivering the highest level of customer service on a commercial footing.

This includes the management of large teams in high volume operations across the UK. He was Director of HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), responsible for 70 million National Insurance accounts, together with managing shared services for 16,000 staff in HMRC and the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

Following university, Steve started his career in British Gas culminating in becoming Director of Gas Supply progressing to Operations Director. He also led schemes to establish new industries in a number of countries.

On leaving British Gas, he led the creation of a number of companies providing services to a range of clients in the private and public sectors, which he subsequently managed. This included being Chief Operating Officer of a company providing customer services to some of the biggest names in retail, national utilities and financial services.

He holds a Master of Science Degree and is on the Boards of the North East Chamber of Commerce, Young Enterprise North East and the North East Regional Leadership Team of Business in the Community.