UK regulator shifts to board governance and moves headquarters to Manchester

The Information Commissioner was replaced on 30 September by the Information Commission, a corporate body that collectively holds the watchdog’s statutory powers. The change, created by the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, shifts governance from a single office-holder to an executive and non-executive board while keeping the regulator’s existing role.

Seven non-executive members have joined the board, with Maggie Carver acting as chair while a permanent appointment is sought, a process expected to finish by spring 2027. Paul Arnold is interim chief executive; the watchdog has also moved its headquarters from Wilmslow to Oxford Road in Manchester. Its data protection and freedom of information work, services and ICO initials remain, while a new strategy is expected to focus on AI, cyber resilience, children’s privacy and public services.