Simon Hayes - CEO Designate
Sport England
Simon was announced as the next CEO of Sport England in June 2025 and takes up his new role in September. Currently Simon is HM Land Registry’s Chief Executive and Chief Land Registrar.
Prior to that, Simon joined the Home Office in 1997 and held several positions across police, criminal justice, and immigration policy, before becoming Chief of Staff for the UK Border Agency (UKBA) in 2005. In 2008 Simon became UKBA’s first Regional Director for the Americas, based in Washington DC.
Simon returned to the UK in 2012 and became UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI)’s International Director. As International Director Simon was responsible for the overseas visa operation, the global network of Visa Application Centres, and international migration partnerships.
In 2014 Simon became the Director of Visas & Citizenship at UKVI. Simon’s responsibilities included oversight of all visitor, tourist, work, study and citizenship routes, as well as the immigration sponsorship system. He also set up the EU Settlement Scheme for European citizens residing in the UK, which was launched successfully in 2019.
