Press release

New Chief Executive appointed to Land Registry

Graham Farrant has today (12 March 2015) been appointed as the new Chief Executive of the Land Registry.

From:
Department for Business, Innovation & Skills, HM Land Registry, The Shareholder Executive, and The Rt Hon Matt Hancock MP
Published
12 March 2015
Last updated
1 April 2015 — See all updates
This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

Mr Farrant will take up leadership of the organisation that forms the bedrock of the England and Wales property market in June 2015. He will use his considerable skills gained through 15 years at Chief Executive level in both private and public organisations to lead the Land Registry through the next stages of its transformation into a modern, digital organisation offering a first rate service to all those buying or selling land and property.

Business Minister Matthew Hancock said:

I am delighted to announce Graham Farrant’s appointment as the next Chief Executive of the Land Registry. His energy and experience transforming complex organisations will ensure Land Registry continues to deliver a top class service while also embracing an increasingly digital model that will drive the efficiency and ease of use that customers expect.

Mr Farrant said:

I am delighted to be taking up this challenging and vital role with the Land Registry. I look forward to continuing the Registry’s proud tradition of being the cornerstone the property industry is built upon, while leading it through the next stages of its transformation into a modern, digital organisation providing excellent services to its customers.

Notes to Editors

  1. The appointment of Graham Farrant follows an open competition overseen by the Civil Service Commission.
  2. Graham will take up his post in June. He replaces Ed Lester who will step down as Chief Executive later this month. John Peaden will be the interim Chief Executive and Chief Land Registrar during the intervening period.
  3. Graham Farrant is currently Chief Executive of Thurrock Council and, in addition, recently took on the same role at Brentwood Council. In the recent past, he also held the Chief Executive role on an interim basis for the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. In addition to his time in public service, Graham also spent time in the private sector as CEO of Leisure Connection Ltd.
  4. Founded in 1862, Her Majesty’s Land Registry enables the property market to work smoothly. It registers the ownership of land and property in England and Wales and today holds a register of over 23 million titles to freehold and leasehold land, covering more than three quarters of the land mass. Central to its work is the building and maintaining of this extensive database of property information.
Published 12 March 2015
Last updated 1 April 2015 + show all updates

  1. Welsh translation added.

  2. First published.

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