The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is seeking a new chief executive, with interviews planned for early in the New Year.
The move follows the decision by current chief executive, Catherine Brown, to “move on” after just over four years as the Agency’s head.
Ms Brown, who took up her FSA post in October 2012, was previously Chief Executive of the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA).
She will be staying in post at FSA until the end of March 2017 and will be making herself available to support a “smooth transition” to her successor.