MARCH 19, 2013 —  The agency that produces the charts used by some 70 percent of world shipping has a new Chief Executive. The United Kingdom Hydrographic Office (UKHO) said today that Ian Moncrieff CBE has been appointed to the role after holding the post on an interim basis since October 2011, when the previous Chief Executive Mike Robinson left the organization.

The U.K. government as sole owner of the UKHO, ran an open, external and national competition for the Chief Executive role. This was a rigorous recruitment process with a panel chaired by an independent Civil Service Commissioner. The appointment is endorsed by the UKHO Chair and Board, the U.K. Ministry of Defence and the Royal Navy, and is effective immediately.

Ian Moncrieff has a long and distinguished naval career, culminating in his appointment as U.K. National Hydrographer in the rank of Rear Admiral in December 2006. On retirement from the Royal Navy in 2010 year he became the Chief Operating Officer at the UKHO.

Commenting on his appointment, he said: "I am absolutely delighted to have been given the privilege of remaining part of the UKHO and continuing to make a contribution in the permanent role of Chief Executive.

"It is good to have the mandate to continue working with my valued colleagues across defense, other hydrographic offices and our Admiralty appointed distributors.

"Our aim is to ensure the continued success and long term sustainability of the UKHO, while always serving the mariner with a quality assured service through our distribution channel."