Simon Hayes appointed Sport England CEO

Simon Hayes, the current CEO of HM Land Registry and chief land registrar, has been appointed Sport England’s new chief executive. Hayes will join the grassroots sports body in September and replaces the outgoing Tim Hollingsworth, who announced in February that he would be leaving Sport England after seven years as CEO.

Hayes has no previous experience in sport, having carved out a career in various public sector and governmental organisations.

He joined the Home Office in 1997 and held several positions across police, criminal justice and immigration policy, before becoming chief of staff for the UK Border Agency. In 2008, he was named UKBA’s first regional director for the Americas, based in Washington DC.

In a statement, Sport England said: “Simon brings a wealth of experience in organisational leadership to Sport England, having a strong track record in delivering impact and public sector modernisation.”