Defra appoints new non-executive director

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has appointed Chris Tyas OBE as a non-executive board member. Tyas’ term will last for three years.

Tyas (pictured) is the chair of not-for-profit standards organisation GS1UK, the whose data standards are behind barcodes and QR codes globally in food, consumer goods, healthcare and construction. Tyas recently ended two years as the co-chair of Defra’s Food Resilience Industry Forum, helping to bring together the food supply chain during the pandemic. 

Prior to that, TYAS had a 40-year career in the food industry, working for Mars and Nestle where for the past five years he has been senior vice president responsible for its global supply chain.

The Defra board provides strategic, corporate leadership to the department and has particular responsibility for monitoring performance and delivery.