Management Board

Christopher Graham became Information Commissioner in June 2009. The Information Commissioner is appointed by HM The Queen and has independent status, reporting directly to Parliament, with a range of responsibilities under the Freedom of Information Act 2000, the Data Protection Act 1998 and related laws. The functions of the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) include promoting good practice, ruling on complaints and taking regulatory action.

Christopher’s career began at the BBC as a radio and TV journalist. Most recently he has been:

• Director General of the Advertising Standards Authority;
• Chairman of the European Advertising Standards Alliance; and
• Secretary of the BBC.

He was a Non-Executive Lay Representative of the Bar Standards Board and a Non-Executive Director of Electoral Reform Services Ltd. He studied History at Liverpool University and his interests include media, music, singing, history and writing.

Simon Entwisle, Director of Operations, joined the ICO in October 2004. He is responsible for all the ICO’s operational functions. The Operations Directorate includes the following divisions: Customer Contact, Case Resolution, Enforcement and Good Practice. Simon is also the board member responsible for the ICO’s offices in Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast.

Simon’s background is in operations and he has been involved in complaints handling since 1991. He also has extensive experience of integrating IT into the work in operational areas.

Before joining the ICO Daniel ran a programme management consultancy. Before that Daniel worked at IBM, during which time his career evolved through sales into marketing and on to management consulting. Daniel has developed, implemented and supported business and IT transformation projects in major industrial and retail companies and the public sector.

David Smith is the Deputy Commissioner with responsibility for the Data Protection supervisory functions of the ICO.

As well as providing Data Protection leadership across the Information Commissioner’s Office, David has direct responsibility for oversight of its Strategic Liaison Division which develops and manages the ICO’s relations with its key stakeholders. He is a member of both the Commissioner’s Management Board and Executive Team.

The international aspects of David’s work involve him in representing the UK on the Article 29 Working Party of European Supervisory Authorities set up under the Data Protection Directive. In addition he was the Chairman of the data protection supervisory body for Europol from October 2006 to October 2009.

Graham Smith is Deputy Commissioner and Director of Freedom of Information for the ICO.

Prior to his appointment as Deputy Commissioner in 2001, Graham enjoyed a career in local government, working for four local authorities over 20 years. He holds a law degree from the University of Sheffield and a Diploma in Local Government Law and Practice. He was admitted as a Solicitor in 1982. He joined the ICO from Oldham MBC, where he was Assistant Chief Executive and Solicitor to the Council. One of two Deputy Commissioners, Graham has lead responsibility for promoting and enforcing Freedom of Information.

Andrew Hind CB was Chief Executive of the Charity Commission from 2004 to 2010. Formerly Chief Operating Officer of the BBC World Service, Andrew has also served as a trustee of several major charities, including Voluntary Services Overseas, the UK Committee for UNICEF and the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund. Andrew was co-founder of the Charity Finance Directors' Group, he is also author of ‘The Governance and Management of Charities’ and a former judge of the National Charity Awards.

Andrew received the Outstanding Achievement Award for long-standing commitment and service to the voluntary sector at the Charity Awards 2008. In January 2011 Andrew was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath.

Jane May has wide experience as an executive and non-executive director in both the public and private sectors. She began a long career in Freemans, in 1978, becoming Customer Relations Director in 1992. She joined Thames Water as Customer Services Director, including Field Services, in 1994.

In 2002 Jane joined OFWAT as a non-executive director. Since then she has also been a non executive director at the Office of Rail Regulation, at the Public Guardianship Office and at SITA Trust.

Enid Rowlands has a background in training, organisational and economic development within England and Wales. She is an independent Member of the North Wales Police Authority, a UK Board Member of Consumer Focus, a Lay Member of the General Medical Council and a Member of the Ministerial Advisory Board of NHS Wales. She is also National Trustee for Wales of the Royal National Institute for the Deaf.

Her career has included posts of Chief Executive of a Training and Enterprise Council, Managing Director of the Welsh Development Agency in North Wales, Chair of the North Wales Health Authority and of the National Council of Education and Learning Wales. Enid previously served for a number of years as a member of the S4C Television Authority and the BBC's Broadcasting Council for Wales.

Mike Thomas is currently a District Auditor with the Audit Commission working with a number of Merseyside local government and health clients. During his ten years with the Commission he has been the District Auditor for Lancashire and Cumbria and team leader for Comprehensive Performance assessments at a number of large local authorities.

Prior to joining the Audit Commission Mike worked as an audit manager and consultant with KPMG and Robson Rhodes Chartered Accountants in Leeds and Manchester. His portfolio of clients has included large metropolitan authorities, health bodies, education, housing associations and central government departments.