The UKHO has appointed Vanessa Blake, who has been Interim Chief Executive since May 2024, as its Chief Executive on a permanent basis.
The UKHO has appointed Vanessa Blake as its Chief Executive. Vanessa, who has been Interim Chief Executive since May 2024, will continue to lead the world-leading centre for hydrography on a permanent basis, guiding its mission to provide quality, innovative navigation solutions to support safe, secure and thriving oceans.
Over the last year, Vanessa has steered the organisation through a pivotal period of transformation. Under Vanessa's leadership, the UKHO has continued to play a leading role in guiding the wider maritime industry through evolving challenges and opportunities, including shaping the global conversation around the emerging S-100 data framework and the future of hydrography and maritime navigation.
Vanessa has championed a focus on customer needs and ensuring the relevance of its solutions to enable more efficient and accurate operational maritime planning. Simultaneously the UKHO continues to transform its internal operations to become more efficient and adaptable, ensuring the UKHO delivers greater value while strengthening its contribution to the UK's defence, enabling global operations to safeguard national security.
As Interim CE, Vanessa's strong commercial background and focus on customer experience has brought a fresh perspective to the leadership of the UKHO, enabling enhanced digital capabilities and improved accessibility of its navigational solutions. The UKHO is investing in the skills and capability of its people to meet the needs of a constantly evolving sector, as well as playing a proactive role in the hydrographic community and fulfilling its public task for Safety of Life at Sea on behalf of the UK government.
With this momentum, Vanessa is well placed to lead the UKHO in delivering its public task, contributing to the UK government's growth mission, and continuing to serve both national security priorities and its commercial customers. Working in close collaboration with national and international partners, the organisation will continue to develop its ADMIRALTY products and services (currently used on 90% of large ships trading internationally) under Vanessa's leadership to ensure the ongoing integrity of its maritime navigation solutions.
I'm honoured to continue leading the UK Hydrographic Office as Chief Executive at such a pivotal time for our industry. Our customers in defence, commercial shipping and around the world are not only looking for data-they're looking for trusted advice, guidance and support as they navigate an increasingly complex maritime landscape.
My focus is to work alongside my colleagues in ensuring the UKHO delivers its vision to be the beacon for quality, innovative maritime navigation solutions, trusted by customers and partners worldwide. We will continue to support safe, secure and thriving oceans, while playing our critical role in delivering the defence plan to make our country secure at home and strong abroad. We remain committed to delivering value for our customers and the global hydrographic community, as a proactive and collaborative partner.
Vanessa Blake, Chief Executive
I am really delighted to confirm Vanessa as the substantive CE of the UKHO. As the Interim CE, Vanessa, working with the UKHO Executive Leadership Team, has bought real focus to both the services and transformation of the UKHO.
I look forward to working with her and the team on the opportunities the Strategic Defence Review and the National Armaments Director Group afford the organisation and its mission, for its people, customers, and defence.
Dr Nina Cope CB, DG Corporate, National Armaments Director Group, Ministry of Defence
The permanent appointment of Vanessa as CE of the UKHO comes at a pivotal time for defence and provides the stability, clarity and direction for the organisation. This ensures the UKHO continues to deliver vital support to defence, as well as meeting its safety-of-life-at-sea obligations and the needs of its customers and partners worldwide.
I was delighted to meet with Vanessa and her talented team at the UKHO in the autumn and look forward to continuing to work closely with them, focusing on maintaining our nations strong international relations.
Lord Coaker, Minister of State for Defence
Marion Leslie, Chair of the Hydrographic Office Board, comments:
The UKHO continues to thrive under Vanessa's highly focused leadership. As our first female leader in 230 years, and someone from a commercial, rather than the more typical, naval background, she represents a cultural shift. Her expertise is invaluable in a technology-driven marketplace, complemented by the unrivalled hydrographic and technical expertise of her team.
Before joining the UK Hydrographic Office, Vanessa served as senior executive of a data-driven technology organisation. With over 25 years' experience in leading strategic change, she brings a strong commercial background and expertise in growth strategy, digital transformation and customer-focused innovation. Vanessa will apply this to guide the UKHO's continued transformation, ensuring it meets the changing needs of its customers while bringing stability, clarity and direction to the organisation.
