New Vice Lord Lieutenant appointed for Oxfordshire

HER Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant for Oxfordshire, Tim Stevenson, has appointed a new Vice Lord Lieutenant.
Former Oxfordshire County Council Chief Executive John Harwood will take over the position from Malcolm Cochrane, who is stepping down after 11 years in the post.

Mr Harwood, who has been a deputy Lieutenant since 2001, is Chairman of the CfBT Education Trust and until 2008 was chief executive of the UK’s Food Standards Agency. Among his other previous roles he was chief executive of the national Learning and Skills Council.

The Wootton resident is also chairman of the Northmoor Trust, a trustee of the Oxfordshire Victoria County History Trust, a governor of the Marborough School in Woodstock, a member of the Court of Oxford Brookes University and of the advisory council of the Oxford Trust. He is also a member of the Awards Council of the Queen’s Anniversary Prizes for Higher and Further Education.

Queen’s representative

Tim Stevenson said: “I am delighted that John has agreed to take on this important role and much look forward to working with him.”

The Vice Lord Lieutenant is appointed by the Lord Lieutenant with the approval of the Queen. As the Queen’s representative in Oxfordshire the Lord Lieutenant has numerous official and social duties and if he is unable to carry out any of these he may ask his Vice Lord Lieutenant to represent him in his capacity as his official deputy.