Decision

Summary of business appointments applications - Professor Vernon Gibson

Updated 12 July 2018

Professor Vernon Gibson left his role as Chief Scientific Adviser at the Ministry of Defence in June 2016.

1. Executive Director, BP International Centre for Advanced Materials (BP ICAM)

Professor Vernon Gibson sought advice on taking up a paid, part-time position as an Executive Director at ICAM.

The Committee noted the MOD has multiple high value contracts with BP for the supply of fuel; however, it considered this appointment could not reasonably be perceived as a reward given Professor Gibson had no involvement in these contracts and has confirmed that he had no official contact with his prospective employer whilst in office.

The Committee concluded there was a low risk of affording BP an unfair advantage given Professor Gibson confirmed contact with Government in this role is unlikely. The Committee also noted he is already engaged by BP as a member of its Technology Advisory Council, having sought the Committee’s advice on that appointment last year and that he was previously employed by BP before commencing a 4 year fixed term appointment as Chief Scientific Adviser in 2012.

The Secretary of State for Defence accepted the Committee’s advice that, in accordance with the Government’s Business Appointment Rules the appointment be subject to the following conditions:

• he should not draw on (disclose or use for the benefit of himself or the persons or organisations to which this advice refers) any privileged information available to him from his time in Crown service; and
• for two years from his last day in service, he should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of the BP International Centre for Advanced Materials or BP PLC.

Mary Jo Jacobi recused herself from this application.

The letter containing the final advice was sent in September 2017.

2. Adviser to the President and Vice Chancellor of Manchester University

Professor Gibson sought advice on taking up a paid, part-time position as an Adviser to the President and Vice Chancellor of Manchester University, Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell.

Professor Gibson confirmed he had no official contact with his prospective employer whilst he was in office; had no commercial information which could unfairly benefit the University; and that contact with Government is unlikely in his role.

The Secretary of State for Defence accepted the Committee’s advice that, in accordance with the Government’s Business Appointment Rules the appointment be subject to the following conditions:

• he should not draw on (disclose or use for the benefit of himself or the persons or organisations to which this advice refers) any privileged information available to him from his time in Crown service; and
• for two years from his last day in service, he should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of the University of Manchester or its students, or make use, directly or indirectly, of his contacts in Government and/or Crown service to influence policy or secure funding on behalf of the University of Manchester or its students.

The letter containing the final advice was sent in July 2017.

3. President’s envoy, Imperial College London

Professor Vernon Gibson sought advice on taking up a paid, part-time position as President’s envoy at Imperial College London.

When considering this application the Committee took into account that neither Professor Gibson nor those whom he was responsible for over the last two years of service had any official dealings with the University, contractual or otherwise. Neither has he been involved in any policy decisions that have affected or could affect his proposed employer or its competitors.

The Committee took into account that the MOD Business Appointments Panel expressed no concerns about Professor Gibson taking up this position, subject to a two-year lobbying ban. The Committee noted that the role would not require him to have any dealings with Government.

The Secretary of State for Defence accepted the Committee’s advice that, in accordance with the Government’s Business Appointment Rules the appointment be subject to the following conditions:

• He should not draw on (disclose or use for the benefit of himself or the persons or organisations to which this advice refers) any privileged information available to him from his time in Crown service; and
• For two years from his last day in service, he should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of Imperial College London or its students.

The letter containing the final advice was sent in November 2016 and the role was taken up in April 2017.

4. Technology Advisory Council member, BP PLC; Senior Fellow, Harvard Kennedy School of Government

Professor Vernon Gibson sought advice on taking up an appointment as a paid member of the Technology Advisory Council at BP PLC and becoming an unpaid non-residential Senior Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

When considering this application the Committee took into account that neither he nor those whom he was responsible for over the last 2 years of service have dealt with the receipt of tenders or awarding of contracts, nor administered or advised on contracts between either of his prospective employers and the MOD.

The Committee also took into account that neither position would require Professor Gibson to advise on matters relating to defence or to have any dealings with government. It is also of note that the position with BP will see him returning to the company he worked for before taking up the post of Chief Scientific Advisor at MOD.

The Secretary of State for Defence accepted the Committee’s advice that, in accordance with the Government’s Business Appointment Rules the appointment be subject to the following conditions:

• He should not draw on any privileged information available to him from his time in Crown service; and
• For two years from his last day in service, he should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government on behalf of BP PLC or its subsidiaries or the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

Mary Jo Jacobi recused herself from this application.

The letter containing the final advice was sent in July 2016 and the appointment was taken up in October.