The Department of Community, Culture and Leisure has announced that Colin Kniveton will be its Chief Executive following the appointment of Nick Black as Chief Executive at the Department of Infrastructure.

Mr Kniveton is taking on the responsibility in addition to his current role under the Business Change Steering Group supporting the comprehensive Scope of Government review of public services. This is an interim arrangement pending completion of the review, which is due to report by the end of this year.

Welcoming Mr Kniveton to the Department, DCCL Minister Graham Cregeen MHK said: ‘Colin Kniveton is a Chief Executive with a great breadth of experience and he is well qualified to take over the helm at the Department from the very capable hands of Nick Black.

‘Of particular relevance is Colin’s previous experience of the DCCL’s field of responsibilities, and of working in a dual role, when he stepped in to serve as Chief Executive of the former Department of Tourism and Leisure from June 2008 to June 2009, while he was Chief Executive of the then Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.’