New Maritime & Coastguard Agency chief executive starts today

Brian Johnson © Maritime & Coastguard Agency

New Maritime & Coastguard Agency chief executive Brian Johnson says he is committed to supporting the Agency's ongoing work to drive up standards of maritime safety.

Brian takes over the helm of the MCA today, bringing a wealth of experience from across industry and the private sector.

After graduating in chemical engineering from Cambridge University, Brian began his career with ICI (Imperial Chemical Industries) where he spent 15 years carrying out research.

While there, he also worked in technology development, site production management and business restructuring leadership. During his time working in Louisiana in the early '90s, he led the design and commissioning of the world's first industrial scale plant making ozone-friendly refrigerants.

After a short spell in Tate and Lyle, Brian moved to Remploy for four years, a company employing 6,000 disabled people in its extensive manufacturing activities around 80 UK sites, where he was Operations Director.

An interest in the work of public service led him into social housing roles where he was CEO of three housing organisations, most recently leading the successful five-year turnaround of Metropolitan. Before joining the MCA, Brian was interim Chief Operating Officer at a bio-pharmaceutical company.

Brian said: 'The MCA rightly has a worldwide reputation in the maritime world, whether it's in the regulatory survey and inspection or enforcement work or in the search and rescue work of HM Coastguard.'

'I'm proud to be taking over from Sir Alan Massey who has done such great work and I intend to build on that work.'