Summary of business appointment applications - Tony Douglas
Published 30 January 2018
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Tony Douglas left his role as Chief Executive of Defence Equipment and Support at the Ministry of Defence in January 2018.
1. Chief Executive, Etihad Aviation Group
The Committee was asked to provide advice under the Business Appointment Rules about Mr Douglas taking up an appointment as Chief Executive of Etihad Aviation Group (Etihad). The MOD had announced Mr Douglas’ appointment last October without first seeking the Committee’s advice. The Committee refused to give retrospective advice.
The Secretariat wrote to the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Defence, noting that the Committee had expressed its concern that the Business Appointment Rules were not followed in this case. It stated that the Permanent Secretary had apologised for this oversight and had assured the Committee of his determination that the correct process is followed in all cases.
However, the Committee formally recorded that:
- The MOD Business Appointments Panel (the Panel) has confirmed that Etihad has no commercial relationship with the MOD.
- Mr Douglas has said that his role at Etihad will not involve contact with the UK Government.
- The failure to seek prior advice aside, the Panel is satisfied that there are no actual or perceived propriety concerns with this appointment.
- The Panel has assessed that the knowledge and networks to which Mr Douglas had access by virtue of his MOD role will not present any advantage to Etihad over the company’s competitors.
The Committee noted that the Panel Chair will write to Mr Douglas and the Chair of Etihad, asking Mr Douglas to observe restrictions on drawing on privileged information available to him from his time in Crown service; lobbying; making use, directly or indirectly of his contacts in Government to influence policy or secure business or funding on behalf of his new employer and advising on the terms or with regard to the subject matter of bids or contracts relating directly to the work of the MOD or its trading funds.
The letter was sent in January 2018.