New Chairman appointed for HM Land Registry

Neil Sachdev has been appointed as the new Chairman of HM Land Registry

replaces Michael Mire who has served as Chairman since 2016

follows the publication of HM Land Registry’s Strategy 2022+ and 3-year Business Plan to help digitise the property market

The government has appointed Nilesh (Neil) Sachdev as the new Chairman of HM Land Registry. The department maintains the register of ownership of land and property containing more than 26 million titles.

Neil brings a wealth of leadership experience at board level and strong commercial and business acumen. He is currently Chair of the East West Railway Company (EWR Co), overseeing the delivery of a new direct rail link between Oxford and Cambridge, as well as Chairman of the Defence Infrastructure Organisation Board for the Ministry of Defence. He is also a Non-Executive Director of Network Rail Property Limited.

Neil has also previously held a variety of senior leadership positions in the energy, property and retail sectors.

He replaces Michael Mire, who has served as HM Land Registry Chairman since 2016.

Business Minister Lord Callanan said:

I am pleased to announce Neil Sachdev as the next Chairman of HM Land Registry. Neil will bring strong leadership experience from both the private and public sectors to support HM Land Registry’s plans to modernise the property market, improve customer service, and reduce the backlog for registering properties.

I would also like to thank Michael Mire for his work over the last 6 years as the Chairman of HM Land Registry and wish him every success for the future.

Chairman of HM Land Registry Neil Sachdev said:

I am very pleased to be taking up the role of Chair of HM Land Registry at this pivotal time. I greatly look forward to leading the board in delivering its ambitious new Strategy to transform the process of land registration in England and Wales and enabling a world-leading property market with people at the heart of it.

Notes to editors

1. The Chair of HM Land Registry is a public appointment made by the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. It follows an open competition which is regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. The Commissioner’s primary role is to provide independent assurance that public appointments are made in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments.

2. Michael Mire, the current non-executive Chair, stood down in August 2022, after 6 years in the role over two 3-year terms. He was at the end of his tenure as non-executive Chair.

3. HM Land Registry’s vision is to enable a world-leading property market as part of a thriving economy and a sustainable future.

4. HM Land Registry published its new Strategy 2022+ on 31 August 2022.

5. HM Land Registry is a non-ministerial government department created in 1862.

6. HM Land Registry protects land and property ownership worth in excess of £8 trillion, including over £1 trillion of mortgages. The Land Register contains more than 26 million titles showing evidence of ownership for some 88% of the land mass of England and Wales.

7. For further information visit HM Land Registry.