A director at Barclays has been named the government’s new lead non-executive director after his predecessor Lord John Nash stood down more than a year early.
Michael Jary, who was previously lead non-executive director at the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, will bring NEDs from different departments together to ensure shared issues and concerns are being pursued across government.
Lord Nash had held the role since July 2020 and was due to stay in the position until summer 2023.
The government’s lead non-executive oversees the cadre of NEDs that sit on departmental boards across government. Non-execs are intended to bring a commercial or independent perspective to the work of departments, as well as providing constructive scrutiny and internal challenge
The lead non-exec is also responsible for ensuring shared issues and concerns highlighted by NEDs across government are being pursued.
Jary will play a key role in building leadership and management skills in departments, recruiting new non-executive directors and supporting the Cabinet Office and departments to transform the way public services are delivered, according to the announcement.
He will work closely with Cabinet Office minister Steve Barclay, cabinet secretary Simon Case; and civil service chief operating officer Alex Chisholm, and will join the board of the Cabinet Office.
Announcing the appointment, Chisholm said non-execs “provide independent expertise, challenge and scrutiny to the work of departments” and bring “invaluable external insight to support the government to achieve its objectives and deliver for UK citizens”.
The Cabinet office permanent secretary added: “Michael Jary brings a huge wealth of experience from business and government to the role, and I look forward to working together on the government’s top priorities.”
He also thanked Nash for “his drive and commitment in leading the non-executive board cadre” over the last two years.
Non-executive board members are drawn from outside government, including from business, academia, think tanks and the voluntary sector, to sit on departmental boards.
Jary has been a strategy adviser for more than 35 years and has experience in both the public and private sector. He was a founding member of global strategy consulting company OC&C and was previously the firm’s worldwide managing partner.
A non-executive director at Barclays, Jary is also a chair of Duchy Originals – an organic foods company set up by Prince Charles – and consultancy firm Itad Ltd.
He is also a trustee of the Prince of Wales’ charitable foundation and Opera Holland Park.
Jary had been the lead NED at DLUHC, and its previous iteration the Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government, since February 2019.