26 June 2008
Three new non-executive members of the Ministry of Justice corporate management board were announced today, completing the new team which will oversee the running of the department.
The three new non-executives are Anne Bulford, from Channel 4 Television; Carolyn Downs, Chief Executive of Shropshire County Council; and David MacLeod, who has a wide portfolio of responsibilities. They take up their appointments with immediate effect.
Secretary of State for Justice Jack Straw said:
'Our new appointees bring with them a breadth and depth of professional knowledge and experience. We have very clear aims to improve public safety by reducing crime and reoffending and the public's experience of the justice system; and strengthening our democracy. I look forward to the contribution the new corporate management board will make to help us meet those goals.'
The non-executives are appointed to provide an independent perspective on the department's development and the performance of its senior managers. Their experience in other areas of business and local government informs the advice which they can provide to the board and supports other board members in delivering the board's objectives. Part of their role will also be, when appropriate, to connect the board to other people and organisations that can further assist the department.
Each is looking forward to the challenge of helping shape the future of one of Whitehall's newest and largest departments.
Anne Bulford said:
'The Ministry of Justice is a new organisation and one which can have a vital impact in improving the lives of the public. I'm delighted to have this opportunity to contribute to its future.'
Carolyn Downs said:
'I hope that my experience in different areas of local and national government will enable me to help the Ministry of Justice deliver on its priorities over the next few years. By doing so I hope to play a role in the development of a department with strong strategic leadership.'
David MacLeod said:
'I'm greatly looking forward to getting involved and bringing to bear some of the lessons I've learned internationally in the commercial sector to ensure the Ministry of Justice can demonstrate it is truly efficient and effective. It is important the board is prepared to plan for the long-term so that improvements are sustainable in the future.'
The three non-executive members will join the Ministry of Justice corporate management board with immediate effect. The board meets monthly and is chaired by Ministry of Justice Permanent Secretary Sir Suma Chakrabarti. The non-executive members will separately have the opportunity to meet the Justice Secretary and members of his ministerial team. All three appointments are initially for a period of three years.
Notes to editors
1. Biographical Details of new Ministry of Justice Non-Executive Board Members
Anne Bulford
Anne Bulford joined Channel 4 as Group Finance Director in June 2005 and she was previously Director of Finance & Business Affairs at the Royal Opera House for three years. In her time there she served as chair of Ofcom's Audit Committee.
Prior to joining the ROH, she worked for three years as Finance Director for Carlton Productions. From 1993 to 1999, Anne worked at the BBC, initially as Head of Internal Audit and from 1996 onwards as Finance Director for BBC Production.
Before joining the BBC, Anne qualified as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG and spent 12 years in practice including a secondment to the London Docklands Development Corporation.
Anne graduated from University College London where she is now a lay member of Council and Honorary Treasurer.
Carolyn Downs
Carolyn Downs has been Chief Executive of Shropshire County Council for five years. She has worked for Shropshire County Council since 1999.
Previously, she was a Corporate Director with the County Council with responsibilities including Environmental Services. She started working in local government in the Library Service in 1982 at the London Borough of Haringey and stayed there for seven years, finally working on Inner City Regeneration Programmes. She moved back into Leisure Services as an Assistant Director in Stevenage Borough and then as Director of Leisure Services in Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council from 1996 to 1999.
Since Carolyn became Chief Executive of Shropshire, it has become the highest performing county council, one of the top ten councils in the country and is rated as four star and improving strongly. It is also a Beacon Council for Older People's Services, Climate Change and Early Intervention for Children.
Carolyn is a member of the Lifting the Burdens Task Force appointed by Ruth Kelly and was an external review team member for the Capability Review of Defra.
Carolyn relaxes by watching Manchester United and playing tennis. She is married with two sons.
David MacLeod
David has a portfolio of responsibilities which include being a Non Executive Director of the Department for International Development, for the last five years was a non-executive direction of Ofsted, Fellow of the Sunningdale Institute, Senior Associate of Towers Perrin and Visiting Professor of the Cass Business School. He is also a Fellow of the RSA and Institute of Marketing.
David has led private sector organisations through major programmes of change including an ICI-owned European business from a loss to 20%+ RONA. He was also head of the marketing team for Dulux where he significantly strengthened the brand through innovation which included Dulux natural whites. Latterly as a Divisional CEO in ICI he brought together five separate businesses to create a new global organisation. He has managed businesses in each of the five largest countries in Europe and served on the boards of companies in Europe, North America, Korea and Russia.
He worked at the Cabinet Office as Senior Adviser on Change and Performance in 2001-03 working across different aspects of Civil Service wide reform. He has also worked at Towers Perrin as Senior Adviser supporting chief executives in both the public and private sectors to implement change in order to enhance performance. He Chaired the last four Chevening Forums which are residential seminars for Permanent Secretaries and Chief Executives. He was one of the five Sunningdale Institute Fellows commissioned by the Cabinet Secretary to review the effect of Capability Reviews across Whitehall.
He has co-authored a book called 'The Extra Mile' published by Pearsons in January 2008 on the theme of how to fully engage employees.
2. Pictures of Anne Bulford, Carolyn Downs and David MacLeod are available online or by request to the press office via the contact numbers below.
3. For more information contact Paul Halford at the Ministry of Justice Press Office on 020 7210 8913, or the Ministry Justice Newsdesk on 020 7210 8822.