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5 November 2025
5pm on 8 December 2025
9 January 2026
30 January 2026
About Port of Tyne
Welcome to the Port of Tyne. As the largest UK trust port, we are an independent statutory body governed by our own unique local legislation. Playing a significant role in the UK economy and infrastructure, our primary duty is to manage, maintain, develop and improve the Port for the benefit of an increasingly wide stakeholder community. We are also the custodian and steward of the River Tyne.
As a major deep-sea port and a vital trading gateway to world-wide markets, the port itself has operated on the Tyne since Roman times. We became a trust port, constituted by Act of Parliament in 1968 and we have no shareholders or owners. Instead, we are governed by an independent Board of up to eight non-executive directors, appointed by the Secretary of State for Transport, and up to four executive directors, including our CEO, currently Matt Beeton.
The Board has a long-term strategy in place, Tyne 2050. This is fully aligned with the national strategy, Maritime 2050, and the North East Economic Plan, which focuses on the development of long-term commercial sustainability and growth through technology innovation and customer partnerships. The Port is also integral to the growth strategy of the regional mayor, Kim McGuiness.
Day to day, our business employs a staff of 330. We have a £70m turnover and £17m EBITDA. The business also has a £100m funding line from the National Wealth Fund and Pricoa (a US infrastructure fund). The Port is run on a commercial basis and receives no Government funding. We simply reinvest our profits back into the business for stakeholder benefit.
Under our current Chair, Lucy Armstrong, we have undergone a sustained programme of diversification, development and investment to ensure the Port’s future as a vibrant, sustainable business, able to respond to changing customer needs. Our customers currently include major players such as Equinor.
Port of Tyne is also one of the UK’s largest car exporters and we have increasingly supported activity within the renewables sector, operating as the maintenance base for the world’s largest wind farm at Dogger Bank. The Port hosts the International Passenger Terminal for cruises and ferries; it has a successful estates portfolio, and a significant container and storage operation. The Port also established and hosts the UK’s first maritime Innovation Hub and remains the only UK port in the global Connected Ports initiative.
We also take our responsibility to the community seriously and play an active role in the region. In 2024 we added £680m to the GVA of the regional economy of the North East and supported 12,000 jobs. Plans for a £1 billion investment were recently announced, with a further 150 acres now planned for development, which will bring further major opportunities.
As Lucy completes her third term of office in June 2026, we are seeking a credible, influential and trusted successor to lead our Board through the next era of investment and development. During her tenure, the Board has overseen a major turnaround of the Port from a loss-making organisation to the stable, ambitious and successful operation it is now.
Our next chair will therefore build on the strong foundations in place by supporting longer-term Investment, JV and partnerships with a range of funders and public agencies and ensuring largescale innovative funding structures are in place to underpin major projects. Good relations are critical for the Port, and you will provide continuity in our relationships with customers and both national and regional government.
As the next phase of development will see the Port underlining the role of the Innovation Hub as an engine for true sector growth and change, this will become a further focus for the Board. Finally, we have an exceptional Executive in place driving national and international projects; however, some management succession is likely over the coming years, and our Chair will ensure continuity of operation though a strong and motivated senior team.
You will be a confident, clear-sighted and skilled strategic leader who understands the value of the Port as an increasingly significant part of our industrial, social and economic fabric, not just in the North East but in the UK and globally. Sound judgement, personal presence and strong team leadership skills are naturally essential for this appointment.
If you can offer Port of Tyne the experience and qualities we are looking for, we look forward to hearing from you.
Find out more
To find out more, and to read Strategy 2050, please visit https://www.portoftyne.co.uk/
Dear Applicant,
Thank you for your interest in Chair role on the Board of Port of Tyne.
This is an important time for the Department for Transport. We are investing heavily in infrastructure and public transport to improve journeys, boost connections, level up the country and support economic growth. Central to our mission is delivering transport that works for everyone in our society.
We are recruiting for a Chair to lead the team on the Board of the Port of Tyne. The next Chair will lead an effective, collegiate Board of non-executive directors drawn from the region and from a wide range of industries and sectors. They will oversee and keep under review the Port’s Strategy 2050, with an eye on longer-term investment plans needed to meet growing demand.
The position requires direct experience of demonstrating senior, strategic leadership and business experience gained in organisations of comparable complexity and exposure. They will also need strong commercial skills and experience with highly effective board leadership skills with an understanding of a wide range of contemporary Boardroom issues.
We strongly welcome applications from all backgrounds. As part of the Department’s commitment to diversity, we believe our public appointments should reflect our customers - the travelling public – who come from all walks of life and have different experiences. We very much welcome fresh talent, expertise, and perspectives, to help us better understand the needs of the communities we serve and support better decision making for all. This includes people who may have never applied for a public appointment – but could bring new ideas, insights and energy.
If you are interested in the role and work of the Port of Tyne, I would like to encourage you to apply.
Our dedicated DfT Public Appointments Team would be happy to talk through the process and answer your questions.
Rt Hon Heidi Alexander MP
Secretary of State for Transport
Chair
The Port of Tyne's primary duty is to manage, maintain, develop and improve the Port and its operations for the benefit of all its stakeholders which comprise customers, employees, the business community, government and the local community.
Our next Chair will lead an effective, collegiate Board of non-executive directors drawn from the region and from a wide range of industries and sectors. They will oversee and keep under review the Port’s Strategy 2050, with an eye on longer-term investment plans needed to meet growing demand. They will also foster the Port’s relationship with a range of stakeholders at regional, national and international levels.
The Chair works closely with the Executive to maintain and promote the Port’s role as a strategically important international gateway. This includes operating a commercially successful Port that also contributes to the local economy. As with all heavy industry, there are risks pertinent to the Port’s safe operation and we are required to sustain the highest standards of safety and security for the benefit of Port customers and users. This is an ongoing area of focus in terms of how we are governed.
Main responsibilities of the Chair role:
· Leading the Board. The Chair leads the Board and manages board business, providing clear direction, cohesion and focus, setting the agenda and tone of Board discussion and promoting open, generative debate with effective decision-making.
· Partnership with the CEO. The Chair fosters a positive, supportive relationship with the CEO and Executive, acting as a trusted sounding Board and critical friend. The Chair ensures an appropriate balance of support and constructive challenge towards the achievement of the Port’s strategic priorities.
· Business Performance. The Chair leads the Board in overseeing delivery of business performance, ensuring that actions and plans are aligned with strategy and that the Board has access to appropriate information for the purposes of monitoring performance.
· Governance and assurance. The Chair ensures that the Board and its committees are properly structured and supported and that the Port is governed to the highest standards, with attention to internal controls, audit, risk management, health & safety processes and openness and transparency.
· Ambassadorial. The Chair is sometimes required to represent the Port to key stakeholders including customers and users, Government, regional and local communities and a range of other interested parties.
This a public appointment made by the Secretary of State for Transport. The DfT is committed to the principles of appointments based on merit with independent assessment, openness and transparency of process. In particular, the Department is committed to addressing the underrepresentation of women, ethnic minorities and people with disabilities who have the required skills and experience.
Our current board
For more information about our current board members, please visit Board and Leadership team | Port of Tyne
Essential criteria:
Knowledge and experience
· The successful candidate will demonstrate similarly senior, strategic leadership and business experience gained in organisations of comparable complexity and exposure.
· Experience of representing organisations in an environment characterised by complex stakeholder groups, or which are subject to public and political scrutiny.
· A background in one or more of the following is essential:
o Strong understanding of the North East of England and capable of building and sustaining key relationships with customers, national and regional government.
o Strong commercial skills and experience; development of funding relationships; long term investments, joint ventures and partnerships with funders and public agencies.
o Financial expertise in infrastructure projects and strategic planning.
Skills and behaviours
· Highly effective Board leadership skills with an understanding of a wide range of contemporary Boardroom issues whilst demonstrating a commitment and integrity in all personal and business dealings.
· Personal presence and stature with sophisticated communication, influencing and interpersonal skills that garner trust and confidence quickly.
· Politically, analytically and commercially sharp; sound independent judgement.
Some public appointments are made by the Prime Minister, or the Crown on the recommendation of the Prime Minister. Others are made by Secretaries of State or other ministers and are of interest to the Prime Minister.
Public appointments made by or of interest to the Prime Minister
In order to apply you will need to create an account or sign in.
Any applications submitted after the closing date, or that are missing any of the following documents, will not be accepted. To apply, you must provide:
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We will ask you to check and confirm your personal details to ensure your application is accurate.
You will also have the opportunity to make a reasonable adjustment request or apply under the disability confident scheme before you submit your application.
Public appointments are made on merit following a fair and open competition process which is conducted in accordance with the Governance Code for Public Appointments. We will deal with your application as quickly as possible and will keep you informed at key stages. We aim to conclude the appointment process within three months of the deadline for applications – this is in accordance with the Governance Code.
The assessment process
Ministers are responsible and accountable to Parliament for the public appointments made within their department. As a result, they must be consulted at every stage of the appointments process.
An Advisory Assessment Panel (“Panel”) is appointed by Ministers to assist them in their decision making. The role of the Panel is to decide, objectively, which candidates meet the eligibility criteria for the role.
At the shortlisting meeting the Panel will assess applications against the eligibility criteria and decide which candidates have best met the criteria, who should be recommended for interview. Ministers will then be consulted on the Panel’s recommended shortlist. If you have applied under the Disability Confident Scheme and you meet all the essential criteria, then you will also be invited for an interview.
Once the shortlist has been agreed by Ministers, you will be advised (by e-mail) whether you have been shortlisted. Those shortlisted will be invited to an interview.
The Panel will meet again to interview candidates and determine who is appointable to the role. The Panel may invite you to make a brief presentation at the start of the interview and will go on to question you about your skills and experience, including asking specific questions to assess whether you meet the criteria set out for the post. The Panel will also explore with you any potential conflicts of interest or any other issues arising from your personal and professional history which may impact on an appointment decision.
Details of the panel’s assessment of interviewed candidates are provided to Ministers, including whether they have judged a candidate to be appointable to the role. It is then for Ministers to determine merit and decide who should be appointed. In some circumstances, Ministers may choose not to appoint any candidates and re-run the competition.
Ministers may choose to meet with candidates before deciding the outcome. Candidates should therefore be prepared for a short time gap between interview and a final appointment decision being made. Candidates who have been interviewed will be kept informed of progress.
Once the decision on the appointment has been made, interviewed candidates will be advised of the outcome of their application, including whom they may approach for feedback. Successful candidates will be issued with their Terms & Conditions and a letter of appointment should they agree to take up the position.
In general, you should have the right to work in the UK to be eligible to apply for a public appointment.
There are a small number of specialist roles that are not open to non-British citizens. Any nationality requirements will be specified in the vacancy details.
The Government expects all holders of public office to work to the highest personal and professional standards.
You cannot be considered for a public appointment if:
you are disqualified from acting as a company director (under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986);
have an unspent conviction on your criminal record;
your estate has been sequestrated in Scotland or you enter into a debt arrangement programme under Part 1 of the Debt Arrangement and Attachment (Scotland) Act 2002 (asp 17) as the debtor or have, under Scots law, granted a trust deed for creditors.
When you apply, you should declare if:
you are, or have been, bankrupt or you have made an arrangement with a creditor at any point, including the dates of this.
you are subject to a current police investigation.
You must inform the sponsor department if, during the application process, your circumstances change in respect of any of the above points.
When you apply you should also declare any relevant interests, highlighting any that you think may call into question your ability to properly discharge the responsibilities of the role you are applying for. You should also declare any other matters which may mean you may not be able to meet the requirements of the Code of Conduct of Board Members (see Outside interests and reputational issues section below)