Environment Agency announces Ed Mitchell as new director of Environment and Business
Making it easy for businesses to protect the environment and get on with economic recovery will be top priority for the Environment Agency’s incoming Environment and Business Director.
The appointment of Ed Mitchell, who is vastly experienced in both the public and private sectors, was announced today by the Environment Agency.
Ed replaces Tricia Henton, who has held the position since March 2005. He will now lead Environment Agency regulation programmes on water, waste, climate change, sustainable development, land and the natural environment.
Setting out his priorities for the year ahead Ed Mitchell said: “We know that it’s been a tough time for business, and we want to make it as easy and efficient as possible for businesses to comply with their environmental obligations. I want to cut red tape so that they can concentrate on their bottom line while performing well environmentally.
“We’ll make it less burdensome for the majority of responsible businesses, concentrate our efforts on persistent polluters, and take robust action against businesses that flout the law.”
“We’ve achieved great things for the environment over the past 10 years, but there will always be new challenges to meet. Among these priorities are helping the nation meet new water quality targets, supporting local authorities and communities in planning and adapting to climate change, and reducing the causes and impacts of pollution.”
The majority of Ed’s career has been in the private sector. He was Director of Environment and Corporate Responsibility at RWE Thames Water and worked in environmental management for GlaxoSmithKline.
Ed is also a non-executive Director for Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor, a not-for-profit company he helped set up that provides water services to people living in poverty in the developing world.