Norman Harrison Appointed Chief Executive of UK Atomic Energy Authority

8th February 2007

Norman Harrison, currently acting Chief Operating Officer for the UK Atomic Energy (UKAEA), has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer with effect from 1 February 2007.

Announcing the appointment, UKAEA Chairman Barbara Thomas Judge said: "I am delighted that Norman has been chosen as our new Chief Executive. With his strong operational experience and excellent safety record, he is the right person at the right time to lead UKAEA as it restructures its operations to prepare for the competition of its nuclear sites and the development of its business activities. Everyone who knows Norman respects his integrity and dedication. His appointment will be widely welcomed by all our stakeholders, and by UKAEA staff."

UKAEA is a public body, reporting to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and DTI Ministers have endorsed Norman Harrison's appointment. Energy Minister Lord Truscott said: "I congratulate Norman Harrison on his appointment as UKAEA's new CEO. As the former Director of Dounreay and Chief Operating Officer, Norman has
earned the respect of employees and stakeholders alike. Teamwork will be very important in addressing future challenges to the UKAEA and I agree with the UKAEA that Norman is the right person to lead the team."

Norman Harrison joined UKAEA in 2003 as Director of Dounreay and a Member of the UKAEA Board. During his tenure he transformed the Dounreay site into a project focussed organisation, integrating expert staff from UKAEA's alliance partners CH2M Hill and AMEC into the site's management team, embedding improvements in safety culture, and establishing Dounreay as one of the highest performing sites in the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority's portfolio. He became acting Chief Operating Officer of UKAEA in August 2006.

His career before joining UKAEA was in the nuclear power generation sector. He was Station Director at Heysham 1 in Lancashire before being appointed Director of Sizewell B, British Energy's flagship PWR in Suffolk. A native of Manchester and chemist by profession, he achieved the top national award when qualifying as a Graduate of the Royal Society of Chemistry.

Commenting on his appointment, Norman said: "I look forward to working with the UKAEA Board to implement our agreed plans for the future development of UKAEA. The key priority for the company must be to maintain our drive for outstanding operational performance and the highest possible standards of safety. Achieving these goals will be the best way to secure success for all the constituent parts of UKAEA, and allow our employees to face the future with confidence - a
personal priority for me".