Following fair and open competition, the Office for Nuclear Regulation (ONR) has today announced the appointment of Mike Finnerty as its new Chief Executive and Chief Nuclear Inspector.
Mike will take up the position later this year and brings nearly 40 years of experience in the nuclear industry, across a wide range of organisations.
He joins ONR from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) where he is currently Special Assistant to the IAEA Director General, providing technical and strategic advice and guidance on nuclear safety, security and safeguards.
Prior to this, Mike spent 21 years at ONR, beginning as a specialist criticality inspector and, from 2013, served as Deputy Chief Nuclear Inspector and Director. At different times during this period he led the regulation of ONR's Operating Facilities and New Reactors Divisions.
Dame Judith Hackitt, ONR’s interim Chair said: "We are delighted to welcome Mike Finnerty to ONR as our Chief Executive and Chief Nuclear Inspector.
“His extensive experience across the whole nuclear landscape makes him ideally suited to lead us as we strive to be more ambitious, demonstrating our commitment to regulating in a way that supports cost-effective and efficient nuclear operations, and to ensure that we can fully play our part in a safe, secure and sustainable nuclear future for the UK.”
On his appointment, Mike said: “I am delighted and honoured to be coming back to ONR as its new Chief Executive and Chief Nuclear Inspector.
“The dynamic environment ONR operates in will present significant challenges, and, I am confident that with the capable people we have in ONR, we will successfully rise to meet them. I will work to ensure that ONR excels as a modern and agile regulator that plays an effective role in influencing and enabling safe and secure nuclear activities for the benefit of society.”
Minister for Transformation at the Department for Work and Pensions, Andrew Western MP, said: “ As ONR’s sponsor Minister, I welcome Mike Finnerty to the crucial role of leading ONR. This time of significant change brings a range of challenges that will need to be met at pace, both across the nuclear sector and for the regulator. I am confident that Mike is well placed to build on the excellent work of Mark Foy to maintain ONR’s reputation as a strong and trusted regulator at home and abroad.”
Minister of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Lord Hunt, said: “Mike Finnerty brings a wealth of experience to the Chief Nuclear Inspector role and I look forward to working with him and the ONR to ensure nuclear is regulated effectively and safely, with our new Nuclear Regulatory Taskforce spearheading improvements to regulations.”