Decision

Correspondence from ACOBA to the Cabinet Office, breach of the Rules (Segro)

Published 17 March 2025

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/corbridge-richard-chief-digital-and-information-officer-department-for-work-and-pensions/correspondence-from-acoba-to-the-cabinet-office-breach-of-the-rules-segro

Dear The Rt Hon Pat McFadden MP,

1. Breach of the government’s Business Appointment Rules: DWP application concerning the appointment of Mr Richard Corbridge with Segro plc

I write to you in my capacity as Chair of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (ACOBA) to bring to your attention a breach of the government’s Business Appointment Rules (the Rules) in the case of a Crown servant’s appointment to a public limited company.

The Rules are set by the government, with the policy owned by the Cabinet Office. ACOBA is independent, with a remit to consider applications received under those Rules, consider the risks and advise on the conditions that should apply.

Mr Richard Corbridge, former Director General, Chief Digital and Information Officer, Department for Work & Pensions (DWP), applied for advice on joining Segro plc (Segro) as its Chief Information Officer. Before ACOBA provided advice on the application, the appointment was announced by the company with coverage in several media outlets[footnote 1].

The government’s Rules state that new appointments must not be announced, or taken up, before advice is provided. ACOBA’s final letter to the department is enclosed as are statements in response to ACOBA from Mr Corbridge and the department. Segro did not reply to ACOBA’s letter, which also is enclosed.

Mr Corbridge confirmed he told Segro that he was subject to the Rules, and that any announcement had to wait until the full process had been completed. Segro decided not to comply with the process and announced the appointment without awaiting advice, and Mr Corbridge’s LinkedIn profile also was subsequently updated. The failures to await advice before announcing the appointment is in this case a breach of the government’s Rules and the requirement set out in the Civil Service Management Code.

The Rules, and any advice provided under them, seek to prevent any reasonable concern that a former Crown servant’s employer may be offered unfair access to privileged information or influence within government as a result of the appointment. Employing organisations putting their needs before those of the government’s Rules   puts applicants in a difficult position. This breach indicates that a lack of clarity on the various standards of behaviour, rules and legislation reaches further than former ministers and Crown servants.

Owing to the failures in this case to allow the Committee to consider the risks and provide its advice, the government, Mr Corbridge and Segro have been left open to concerns that he may offer Segro an unfair advantage.

As owner of the Rules, it is a matter for you to decide what action to take. In line with the Committee’s policy of transparency, correspondence on this matter will be published on our website.

The Rt Hon Lord Pickles

Copied to: The Rt Hon Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, Minister for the Cabinet Office; Darren Tierney, Director General, Propriety and Ethics, Cabinet Office.

2. Enclosures:

  1.  www.computerweekly.com/news/366612942/DWP-CIO-Rich-Corbridge-leaving-to-join-property-developer

    www.propertyweek.com/finance/segro-appoints-former-government-official-at-cio

    www.egi.co.uk/news/segro-strengthens-leadership-team-with-first-cio/

    benews.co.uk/segro-hires-new-chief-information-officer/

    uk.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/SEGRO-PLC-4007239/news/SEGRO-Appoints-Rich-Corbridge-as-Chief-Information-Officer-48019010/ ↩

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