Advanced Research and Invention Agency: Recruitment of CEO and Chair

Wednesday 12th May 2021 Written Statements

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Amanda Solloway)]

Given the unusual autonomy placed on the CEO and chair roles for ARIA, it is vital we source the best possible candidates, and get them started as soon as possible. We have planned an extensive outreach strategy to ensure we maximise the size of the talent pool. We will expand and enhance the search for the right individuals, including by procuring the services of a respected international executive search agency from the Government’s commercial framework. This agency will not have any part to play in candidate selection or interview sifting—these activities will be the responsibilities of BEIS Secretary and the ARIA recruitment panel, respectively.

Parliamentary approval for additional resource of £200,000 for this new service will be sought in a main estimate for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. Pending that approval, urgent expenditure estimated at £200,000 will be met by repayable cash advances from the Contingencies Fund.

[HCWS3]