The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Lisa Nandy, has appointed Dr Linda Yueh CBE as Chair of The Royal Parks for a four-year term from 1 March 2026 to 28 February 2030. The post is unpaid and the appointment was made under the Cabinet Office Governance Code on Public Appointments, regulated by the Commissioner for Public Appointments. DCMS records no significant political activity by Dr Yueh in the past five years. The announcement was published on 16 January 2026. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-chair-appointed-to-the-royal-parks?utm_source=openai))
Dr Yueh is Fellow in Economics at St Edmund Hall, University of Oxford, and Adjunct Professor of Economics at London Business School. She serves on the English Law Promotion Panel and the UK Soft Power Council and has previously advised the UK Board of Trade and HM Treasury’s ring‑fencing and proprietary trading review. She chairs a London Stock Exchange‑listed investment company and is a non‑executive director at FTSE 100 companies. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-chair-appointed-to-the-royal-parks?utm_source=openai))
The Royal Parks charity manages 5,000 acres across eight Royal Parks in London, including Hyde Park, Richmond Park and St James’s Park, as well as sites such as Brompton Cemetery and Victoria Tower Gardens. The parks are owned by the Crown with responsibility resting with the Secretary of State; the charity manages them on the Government’s behalf. The Board of Trustees sets strategic direction and oversees delivery. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/royal-parks/about?utm_source=openai))
The Royal Parks is registered with the Charity Commission as a charitable company (charity number 1172042; company number 10016100). ([register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk](https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/charity-search/-/charity-details/5096383/full-print?utm_source=openai))
According to the charity, it costs around £75 million a year to manage the estate. Approximately 85% of income is raised independently through commercial activity and fundraising, with the remaining 15% funded by Government. ([royalparks.org.uk](https://www.royalparks.org.uk/about-us/royal-parks-charity?utm_source=openai))
The public competition for the chair role opened on 11 July 2025, closed on 22 August and interviews were scheduled to conclude by 24 October. The information pack set a four‑year term with an ad‑hoc time commitment. It also noted that The Royal Parks’ management contract with the Secretary of State runs until 2027, so renewal or renegotiation will fall within the new Chair’s first term. ([apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk](https://apply-for-public-appointment.service.gov.uk/roles/8871?utm_source=openai))
Leadership continuity is maintained ahead of the handover. Sir Loyd Grossman CBE’s term was extended to 28 February 2026 while the competition concluded. In May 2024, DCMS announced Dame Mary Archer as Chair of The Royal Parks Board; subsequent notices extended the incumbent’s term. Dr Yueh will take office on 1 March 2026. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/sir-loyd-grossmans-cbe-term-as-the-royal-parks-chair-extended-for-9-months?utm_source=openai))
DCMS notes that Dr Yueh is due to stand as an independent candidate for Alderman of Coleman Street Ward in the City of London in February 2026. This is a civic role within the City of London Corporation and not a political appointment. Under the Governance Code, any significant political activity must be declared; DCMS records none for Dr Yueh. ([gov.uk](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-chair-appointed-to-the-royal-parks?utm_source=openai))