New Director for Food Standards Agency in Wales

Friday 26 October 2007

Ref: WA45/07

Following an open competition, chaired by a Civil Service Commissioner, Steve Wearne has been appointed as FSA Director for Wales in succession to Joy Whinney who is taking a career break.

Following a period of post-graduate research, Steve joined the Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food in 1990 as a Higher Scientific Officer. He was soon promoted to Senior Scientific Officer and to Head of Branch (Grade 7 level) in 1997. He transferred to the Food Standards Agency and initially headed the Private Office and was the first Private Secretary to the first Chair of the FSA (Sir John Krebs, now Lord Krebs).

Steve was promoted to the Senior Civil Service in September 2001 as Head of Chemical Contaminants and Animal Feed Division. He served as Interim Director for Wales in Cardiff from July 2003 for some 15 months before returning to London as Head of Regulation, International and Openness Division where he has remained until the present.

Commenting on his appointment, Steve said 'I am delighted to be returning to Wales to head FSA operations. I look forward to working with all our stakeholders in the Principality to deliver improved food safety and to enable Welsh consumers to make informed choices about food.'