Natural England has appointed Neil Hornby as its next chief executive, with the former Cefas boss due to take up the role in autumn 2026 following the retirement of Marian Spain.
Hornby, who has led the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas) since 2021, will oversee Natural England as it continues work on major environmental programmes, including the Nature Restoration Fund and Landscape Recovery.
His appointment is likely to be of interest to the farming sector, as Natural England plays a key role in shaping environmental policy and regulation that affects agricultural businesses, including poultry producers. Hornby said he was committed to balancing nature recovery with sustainable economic growth.