The Secretary of State for Health has appointed Timothy Riley as deputy chair of the Food Standards Agency (FSA).

His appointment began on Monday 1st January 2024 and will commence for three years. Riley has been a board member since 2019, and was the chair to the FSA’s Audit and Risk Assurance Committee (ARAC) as well as a member of the FSA Advisory Committee on Animal Feedstuffs.

Riley has had an academic background in molecular immunology and brings experience as a senior civil servant having been head of NHS Public Health Policy and of Clinical Standards, heading the team that established the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence. FSA said that he also brings “operational leadership experience” having served as chief executive to three NHS Primary Care Trusts from 2001 to 2011.

Alongside his public service roles, Riley operates a commercial beef and lamb farm in West Yorkshire. He has a “keen interest” in sustainable and nature friendly agriculture, and has operated his farm for over 30 years. Riley is president of the UK Beef Shorthorn Cattle Society, board member and ARAC chair to the Defra Veterinary Medicines Directorate and a member of the UK Genetics of Livestock and Equines Committee. In the private sector, he holds two non-executive board positions.

Professor Susan Jebb, chair of the FSA, said: “I am delighted that Timothy, who has made an outstanding contribution as an FSA board member since 2019, will now become deputy chair of the Food Standards Agency. Timothy’s experience as a board member across a range of public and private bodies, combined with his scientific background and knowledge of the food and farming sector, make him exceptionally well qualified to take up this role. I look forward to working closely with him.”

Riley said: “I value highly the role and work of the FSA in ensuring that our food is safe and is what it says it is. The FSA’s contribution to Public Health and to consumer confidence is vitally important and so I am really pleased to take up the role of deputy chair and to support the FSA going forward.”