National Oceanography Centre Announces Jeremy Darroch as New Chair

The National Oceanography Centre (NOC), the global leader in ocean science and marine robotics, has appointed Jeremy Darroch, former Executive Chair of Sky as their new Chair of Board.

For 14 years, Jeremy was instrumental in leading Sky into a new era of environmental awareness with a substantial commitment to environmental sustainability. Under Jeremy’s leadership, Sky was the first major media company to commit to becoming Net Zero Carbon by 2030. In addition to this pledge, Sky committed to using its wide reach to help and inform audiences on global warming and low carbon economies.   

On his appointment as the new Chair of NOC, Jeremy said: “I am thrilled to be joining the National Oceanography Centre at such an exciting time for ocean research and technology. The work done by the dedicated scientists and innovators at NOC is crucial to protecting our ocean and our planet. The passion NOC’s experts have for their work is inspiring to see and I look forward to helping them ensure that their important work has global impact and recognition.”  

During his time at Sky, Jeremy helped spearhead the launch of major initiatives designed to bring awareness to the challenges facing the environment. These included Rainforest Rescue that helped save more than 1 billion trees in the Amazon rainforest and Ocean Rescue that has raised awareness and brought action on the devastating effect of plastics pollution on ocean health.  

Jeremy was awarded the inaugural MIP United Nations Sustainable Development Goal Award in 2020 and also serves as an ambassador to the World Wildlife Federation (WWF).  

After four years as Chairman of NOC, John Hirst CBE, said: “NOC is in the best hands going forward. Jeremy is a proven leader with a fantastic track record on environmental issues. I am proud to have seen NOC through its independence in 2019 becoming a self-governing organisation with research spanning from coastal to deep ocean. NOC has done tremendous work and the people who work here are world leading. Their tireless efforts have led to huge breakthroughs in ocean research using cutting edge technologies and scientific methods. I want to thank everyone at NOC for their brilliant work.”  

Commenting on the appointment of the new Chairman, Professor Ed Hill CBE, Chief Executive at the National Oceanography Centre, added: “Jeremy has extensive leadership qualities and is passionate about the causes we work tirelessly on every day. I am grateful to our outgoing Chair John Hirst for his dedication and support to NOC in guiding it throughout its successful transition to an independent organisation. He leaves NOC in a fantastic position, growing from strength to strength.  We are a strong, independent body providing ground-breaking research that has huge positive benefits to our planet.”   

Jeremy Darroch will take up his new role in October.