Christopher Howes JP BSc MPhil FRICS has been appointed Second Commissioner of the Crown Estate. He becomes the chief executive, deputy chairman and chief accounting officer. The appointment follows the recent death of Dr Keith Dexter CB, who held the post from 1983 until his death in April.
Mr Howes joins the Crown Estate from the DOE where he was latterly an under secretary and director of the land and property division. He was closely involved with the development and implementation of policies aimed at improving the performance of major public sector land.
Commenting on the announcement, the First Commissioner, Lord Mansfield, said: “I am delighted that Mr Howes is to become the Second Commissioner and chief executive in succession to the late Dr Keith Dexter. During the last few years the Estate has made very considerable advances and I know that this momentum will be continued in the future. I very much look forward to working with Mr Howes.”
Mr Howes added: “I am looking forward immensely to responding to the challenge and to building on the achievements of the late Dr Dexter and his team.”
Born in 1942, Mr Howes graduated with a BSc from the College of Estate Management, London University and subsequently attained an MPhil from the University of Reading. He become a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in 1967. From 1971-79 Mr Howes was the senior partner at P Howes & Co. He moved to the Department of the Environment in 1979. Mr Howes will take up his post at the Crown Estate in early September.
