National Audit Office Chair announced

Michael Jary CBE has been announced by the Prime Minister and the Chair of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) as the next chair of the National Audit Office (NAO).

Michael was chosen following an open competition that was led by Parliament, with the preferred candidate chosen by a selection panel that included the Chair of PAC, the Comptroller and Auditor General for Jersey and the Permanent Secretary of the Treasury. He will succeed Dame Fiona Reynolds as the NAO Chair when her tenure ends, taking up the post from January 2027.

Michael Jary was one of the founding team of OC&C Strategy Consultants and served as the firm’s Worldwide Managing Partner. He has been a strategy adviser to large companies for four decades. His current board roles include non-executive director of Barclays Bank UK plc, non-executive director of Openreach, chair of Kensington Mortgages, and acting chair of The King’s Foundation. Previous roles include non-executive director of Nationwide Building Society and chair of The Fairtrade Foundation. Michael was previously the Government’s Lead Non-executive Director and a member of the Cabinet Office Board. Prior to that he was Lead Non-executive Director at the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.

Michael Jary said: “I am thrilled to be joining the National Audit Office as chair. Productivity, resilience and innovation in public services have never been more important. NAO supports Parliament’s scrutiny of government, achieves a positive financial impact and makes a difference to people’s lives.

“I am particularly looking forward to joining NAO’s brilliant team of high-performing professionals. I hope to carry forward Dame Fiona Reynolds’ example by providing strong leadership to the board and helping the NAO extend its impact even further.”

Gareth Davies, Comptroller and Auditor General, said: “I look forward to welcoming Michael Jary to the NAO Board as its Chair when Dame Fiona Reynolds’ term ends in January 2027.

“I know that he will make a significant contribution to the NAO’s mission as the UK’s public spending watchdog, just as Fiona has in her six impactful years in the role.”

Dame Fiona Reynolds, current Chair of the NAO said: “I have loved being Chair of the NAO, and I wish my successor Michael Jary an equally rewarding and motivating term of office.

“The NAO is a unique organisation, with an unparalleled opportunity not only to hold Government to account, but improve the way public money is put to use for public benefit.”

Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, Chair of the Public Accounts Committee said: “I would like to thank the significant number of candidates who were interested in this all-important role. All those we interviewed were outstanding. I would also like to thank my two fellow panellists in the appointment, James Bowler CB, Permanent Secretary of HM Treasury, and Lynn Pamment CBE, Comptroller and Auditor General of Jersey.

“In the end a decision had to be made, and I am delighted to announce Michael Jary CBE as the best candidate for the post. I would like to thank Dame Fiona Reynolds for her able years of service when she formally hands over the reins to Michael next year.

“Our Committee’s scrutiny has long benefited from the superlative support of the NAO, and I am confident that Michael will provide that organisational challenge to ensure that it continues to perform at the very highest level into the future.”