Heather Hancock, the chairperson of the U.K. Food Standards Agency (FSA) will be leaving her post as she has been elected as the new master of St John’s College, Cambridge. Hancock will join St. John’s College in October 2020.
Since her appointment as chair in April 2016, Hancock has led the FSA board and the department as it prepares to face the challenges of the U.K.’s departure from the European Union, as well as driving through major reforms and modernization in the way food is regulated.
“The FSA is a wonderful organization to lead and I will be sorry to leave,” Hancock said. “However, I’m not taking up my post until October next year and over the next 10 months I will continue to focus on the key issues facing the FSA. My priorities are to see through the Brexit transition, to drive forward our modernization ambitions, and to embed food allergies and intolerances as a long-term priority.”
Emily Miles, chief executive of the FSA said: 'Heather is an outstanding FSA Chair and, while sorry to see her leave, I am delighted that we will continue to benefit from her leadership, clarity of thought and commitment to the values and mission of the FSA until October next year.”
St John's College, according to its website, was founded in 1511 and is one of the largest colleges of the University of Cambridge. Its former students include Nobel Prize winners, prime Ministers, scientists, artists, and leaders in business and industry. Today St John’s has more than 150 Fellows, about 900 students, and 250 members of staff. The master provides overall leadership of the community of students, staff and Fellows. Hancock, who studied land economy at St. John's College, will be the 45th master of the college and the first woman to hold the role.
