Thursday 17 December 2015

The National Nuclear Laboratory (NNL) is pleased to welcome today’s announcement from DECC that Sir Andrew Mathews will succeed Richard Maudslay as NNL’s Chairman from 1 January 2016.

Andrew Mathews joined NNL as a Non-Executive Director in June 2014, following a career of over 35 years in the Royal Navy, during which he rose to the rank of Vice Admiral and held a series of senior roles including latterly Chief of Materiel Fleet, where he had charge of over 4500 people and an annual budget in excess of £5 billion. He said:

“I’m delighted to be selected for this important appointment and at such exciting times. There is a genuine opportunity for NNL to sit at the heart of UK’s revitalised civil nuclear programme, but it will not be without its challenges. I am looking forward to working with my board colleagues as we navigate our way to achieve our vision of being a world-leading national nuclear laboratory. As I take over from Richard Maudslay, I would like to acknowledge the huge contribution his leadership and guidance have made over the six years of his chairmanship, since NNL was formally established in 2009.”

Notes for Editors:

Andrew Mathews joined the Royal Navy straight from Newcastle Royal Grammar School in 1976. Initial training at Dartmouth, was followed by an engineering degree at the Royal Naval Engineering College Manadon and nuclear training. Andrew joined his first nuclear submarine, HMS Turbulent, in Barrow in Furness in 1983.

He then held a series of land and sea-based appointments related to the Navy’s submarine programme, including a 2 year period working on the design of the Navy’s next generation of nuclear reactor. Following his promotion to the rank of Commodore in 2002, Andrew served as Naval Base Commander Devonport, where he was responsible for the operation and management of the largest naval base in Europe, providing support to both nuclear submarines and surface ships. Following promotion to Rear Admiral in 2005, he was appointed as Director General Nuclear and Submarines running the RN’s nuclear submarine and weapons programme and being responsible for nuclear safety across the entire MoD nuclear programme.

In 2009 he was promoted to Vice Admiral and appointed as Chief of Materiel Fleet, where he managed the RN’s support and acquisition programme for all ships and submarines and was responsible for the operation of the RN’s 3 naval bases in addition to over 4500 people and an annual budget of £5.4 billion.

Already a Companions of the Order of the Bath (CB) Andrew was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 2013 New Year Honours List. He joined NNL as a Non-Executive Director in June 2014, following his retirement from the Royal Navy. Married to Beverley, with 2 grown up children, he spends his time restoring a house in Cornwall and rediscovering its garden and also tries to find time to sail and cycle.