James Benford joins ONS as the new Director General for Economic, Social, and Environmental Statistics, bringing expertise to enhance economic data quality.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has announced the appointment of James Benford as the new Director General for the Economic, Social, and Environmental Statistics Group (ESEG). Benford will officially join the ONS team on August 4, 2025, transitioning from his current role as Executive Director for Data and Analytics Transformation and Chief Data Officer at the Bank of England. 

This key appointment comes as the ONS seeks to enhance the quality of its economic statistical outputs and renew public confidence during a transformative period. 

Emma Rourke, the Acting National Statistician, expressed her enthusiasm by stating, "I am delighted to welcome James at this pivotal moment for the ONS. He brings a wealth of leadership and transformation experience from his role at the Bank of England, as well as outstanding expertise in the field of economic statistics, data, analytics and AI-driven innovation." 

Benford's career at the Bank of England, where he focused on data transformation and AI strategy, provides a foundational experience that aligns with the ONS's goals of data quality improvement and system-wide statistical alignment. He has previously held senior civil service roles, contributing significantly to policy and strategy at prestigious institutions such as HM Treasury. 

Upon his appointment, Benford noted his eagerness to work with the ONS teams to fortify the relevance and trust of statistical data that informs critical decisions across sectors, stating:

“I am honoured to take up this role at such a pivotal moment. I am excited to work with the talented and dedicated teams at the ONS to strengthen the quality and relevance of statistics - and to rebuild public trust in the data that informs so many critical decisions.

“Better statistics require better alignment - not only within the ONS, but across the entire system. I look forward to collaborating with users and data suppliers across government, business, and academia to harness new data sources, embrace innovation, and ensure our statistics are fit for the challenges of a fast-evolving world.” 

This appointment aligns with an impending independent review of the ONS, guided by Sir Robert Devereux, aimed at further optimizing the organization’s functionalities and services.

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