Iain Banfield has today (24 July 2026) been appointed as the permanent Chief Executive and Chief Land Registrar of HM Land Registry following his successful tenure as Interim Chief Executive.
Iain will formally take on the role in September 2026. Building on his achievements as interim CEO and Chief Financial Officer since 2019, he also brings considerable experience from previous roles in the Department for International Trade, UK Trade and Investment, and roles in the Shareholder Executive and BIS.
The appointment has been approved following an open and fair recruitment process.
Non-executive Chair of HM Land Registry, Neil Sachdev said
I am delighted to confirm the appointment of Iain as the new Chief Executive and Chief Land Registrar of HM Land Registry. Iain brings with him a wealth of experience from his previous roles and his time as both CFO and Interim CEO. I believe he is the right person to lead HM Land Registry through the next phase of its transformation, continuing to improve customer service, modernise the organisation and support the Government’s ambitions for housing and economic growth.
I would also like to thank colleagues across HM Land Registry whose professionalism, commitment and dedication have enabled the organisation to make strong progress over the past year. The board and I look forward to working with Iain and the whole team as they build on those achievements.
Iain Banfield said
I am delighted to be appointed to this role having been honoured to serve as Interim CEO over the last year. I look forward to working with everyone across the sector and within the organisation as we continue on our transformation journey, improving services for customers, working closely with our partners across the property sector, and delivering lasting benefits for all our partners.
Iain Banfield biography
Iain joined HM Land Registry in February 2019 as Chief Financial Officer. Prior to this, he spent two and a half years in the Department for International Trade, first as Deputy Director for Strategic Finance and then Acting Finance Director. Iain is currently the Interim Chief Executive and Chief Land Registrar at HM Land Registry.
A career civil servant since 2001, Iain has held senior finance and leadership roles across government, including Finance Director for UK Trade & Investment, Finance Business Partnering, and positions within the Shareholder Executive and the former Department for Business, Innovation and Skills.
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