Defra announces new Deputy CVO
1st Nov 2016 / By Alistair Driver
Graeme Cooke has been named as the new Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer (DCVO) for the UK.
Mr Cooke will begin his new role at the end of January, replacing interim DCVO Simon Hall.
An experienced veterinarian with extensive experience in both rural and urban communities, he returns to Defra following a round of competitive external recruitment.
Originally from a livestock farming family, he first started working for Defra in 2002 as a policy advisor planning disease outbreak preparedness, before working across areas of UK and EU animal welfare and disease, including international trade negotiations.
He went on to become a director at the World Governing Body of Equestrian Sport (FEI) and has been a member of a number of expert working groups at the World Animal Health Organisation (OIE) and the EU. He is currently trustee of an international animal welfare charity.
He said: “I am delighted to be able to contribute to the work of maintaining the animal and public health status of the UK. It is a privilege to support our farming and food industry in this role."
CVO Nigel Gibbens, said: “Graeme will strengthen the animal health team in Defra to serve the interests of the whole of the UK as part of the Government's ongoing commitment to maintaining our high animal health and welfare standards.
"I am grateful to Simon Hall for his work in the interim and look forward to our work together as a senior veterinary team, along with our CVO colleagues in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales."