Decision

Summary of business appointments applications - Michael Hearty

Published 19 July 2017

Michael Hearty left his role as Director General for Finance and Corporate Services in the Welsh Government in September 2015.

1. Independent Adviser to the Audit Committee of Public Health England (PHE)

Mr Hearty sought the Committee’s advice on taking up a role with PHE as an Adviser to the Audit Committee. When considering this application, the Committee took into account that Mr Hearty had not had any official dealings with PHE whilst in office and the role would not involve dealings with the Welsh Government. The Committee further noted that health is a devolved matter and that this role would be based in England and have no relationship with the Welsh Government.

The Committee also noted that the Welsh Government had no concerns about this appointment.

The Committee’s advice to the First Minister that this be subject to the following conditions, was accepted:

• he should not draw on (disclose or use for the benefit of himself or the organisation 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 Welsh Government on behalf of any of his clients or those he advises.

The Committee sent its advice letter in May 2016.

2. Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit Committee of Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Blackpool Hospital Trust)

Mr Hearty sought the Committee’s advice on taking up a role with Blackpool Hospital Trust as a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Audit Committee. When considering this application, the Committee took into account that Mr Hearty had no official dealings with Blackpool Hospital Trust whilst in office and the role would not involve dealings with the Welsh Government. The Committee further noted that as health is a devolved matter, and that this role would be based in England, it would have no relationship with the Welsh Government.

The Committee also noted that the Welsh Government had no concerns about this appointment.

The Committee’s advice to the First Minister that this be subject to the following conditions, was accepted:

• he should not draw on (disclose or use for the benefit of himself or the organisation 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 Welsh Government on behalf of any of Blackpool Hospital Trust.

The Committee sent its advice letter in May 2016.

3. Independent consultancy

Mr Hearty sought the Committee’s advice on setting up an independent consultancy focussing on coaching, transformational change and interim senior executive roles to both the public and private sectors.

The Committee’s advice to the First Minister that this be subject to the following conditions, was accepted:

• he should not draw on (disclose or use for the benefit of himself or the organisations he advices) any privileged information available to him from his time in Crown service;
• for two years from his last day in service, he should not become personally involved in lobbying the Welsh Government on behalf of any of his clients or those he advises;
• for 12 months from his last day of service he should not undertake any work as a consultant which involves providing advice to any company or organisation on the terms of a bid or contract relating directly to the work of the Welsh Government; and
• for two years from his last day of service, before accepting any new commission he should make a case directly to the Committee to confirm that each individual commission he wishes to undertake would be permissible under the approved terms of the consultancy. (If, after enquiry, the Committee takes the view that a commission is, or may be, outside the terms of the consultancy he will be expected to submit a fresh application).

The Committee sent its advice letter in May 2016.

4. Commission with Accelerus

Mr Hearty sought advice from the Committee on taking up a commission with Accelerus, a company providing change management services to public and private sector organisations. The Committee advised that this was consistent with the terms of the consultancy and should be subject to the following conditions:

• he should not draw on (disclose or use for the benefit of himself or the organisations to which this advice refers) any privileged information available to him from his time in Crown service;
• for two years from his last day in service, he should not become personally involved in lobbying the Welsh Government on behalf of any of his clients or those he advises;
• for 12 months from his last day of service he should not undertake any work as a consultant which involves providing advice to any company or organisation on the terms of a bid or contract relating directly to the work of the Welsh Government; and
• for two years from his last day of service, before accepting any new commission he should make a case directly to the Committee to confirm that each individual commission he wishes to undertake would be permissible under the approved terms of the consultancy. (If, after enquiry, the Committee takes the view that a commission is, or may be, outside the terms of the consultancy he will be expected to submit a fresh application).

The Committee sent its advice letter in May 2016.