The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero has called in headhunters to help it find the next chair of the Climate Change Committee.
DESNZ has signed a contract worth £30,000 with executive search firm Saxton Bampfylde to lead the group, which acts as independent climate advisers to the government.
The committee has been without a permanent chair since John Gummer – also known as Lord Deben – stepped down in June 2023. In July 2022, it was announced that Gummer’s term had been extended while a search for his successor got under way.
But nearly two and a half years after Gummer announced his plans to step down, a permanent replacement has not been appointed. Rishi Sunak, who was prime minister for most of that time, was accused of dodging scrutiny of his green policies by putting the permanent appointment off until after the recent general election.
Prof Piers Forster, who has sat on the committee since 2018, has stood in as interim chair since Gummer’s departure.
The chair of the committee is responsible for steering and developing its work, while the chief executive manages the day-to-day running of the body.
Saxton Bampfylde will provide “end-to-end executive search services” to help the UK government and devolved administrations – which appoint the CCC chair jointly – find a suitable candidate.
The firm’s role will include advertising, headhunting, long and shortlisting and referencing to identify “credible and suitable” candidates, according to contract documents.
The documents show DESNZ is expecting a longlist of 20 to 30 candidates who meet the essential and diversity criteria for the role, followed by a shortlist of five to seven suitable candidates.
The contract is for a fixed fee of £30,000 – 25% of which will depend on the delivery of a satisfactory longlist; 25% on a satisfactory shortlist; and 50% on the successful appointment of a candidate.
Emma Pinchbeck, the former chief executive of trade association Energy UK, joined the committee as chief exec this week.
Announcing her appointment last month, interim chair Forster said Pinchbeck is the “ideal person” to help the committee provide “important advice… that needs to focus minds and accelerate delivery”.
“Climate action needs to speed up across the economy. Emma’s knowledge of the transition within the energy sector and her experience of working with the private sector will help us analyse the success of the government’s plans to decarbonise the power system. This is needed to underline the roll out of EVs, heat pumps, and industrial decarbonisation at the pace we need them,” he added.
Pinchbeck succeeds James Richardson, who has been acting chief exec since Chris Stark stepped down in April. In July, Stark was appointed to lead energy secretary Ed Miliband’s green power “mission control”.