Nick Markham appointed as Lead Non-Executive Director for DWP

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions has appointed Nick Markham as Lead Non-Executive Director for three years to lead the departmental non-executives and provide independent advice, support and scrutiny on the department’s work. The new Lead Non-Executive will work with civil servants and ministers across all areas of policy, helping on the Government’s priorities including the response to Coronavirus, reactivating the labour market and delivering a modern, fair and affordable welfare system. He will join the existing Non-Executive Board Members, David Holt, Hayley Tatum, Ashley Machin, Eleanor Shawcross and Rachel Wolf.

Nick Markham

Nick has extensive experience across the public, private and voluntary sectors. He currently chairs London & Continental Railways, which is owned by the Department for Transport, and performs large scale regeneration around stations such as Kings Cross and the Stratford Olympic site. Previously he was the Lead Non-Executive Director for the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, and the Deputy Leader of Westminster Council.

Nick is also a founder of Safe Haven, a social enterprise charity that provides 200 homes for the homeless in London after raising £33 million through a funding model which effectively “securitises housing benefit” thereby requiring no government grants or donations.

Nick has extensive private sector experience, with roles including ITV Strategy Director, where he developed the concept of Freeview with the BBC and was in charge of the Carlton and Granada merger. Previously he was the Chief Financial Officer of Laura Ashley, and the Chief Executive Officer of Top Up TV. Recently, he has founded a Coronavirus-screening business which allows the PGA golf, Scottish Premier League football, Netflix and BBC TV production companies to all safely restart their activities following the lockdown.

About the Department for Work and Pensions

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is responsible for welfare, pensions and child maintenance policy. As the UK’s biggest public service department it administers the State Pension and a range of working age, disability and ill health benefits to around 20 million claimants and customers. DWP is a ministerial department, supported by 15 agencies and public bodies.