[ACNS] The Church in Wales has appointed the diocesan secretary from Coventry, in the Church of England, as its new provincial secretary. Simon Lloyd will take up his new role in May following the retirement of Wales’ current Provincial Secretary, John Shirley.

Mr Lloyd was born in Cardiff and graduated in electrical engineering before training as a design engineer with GEC. A career in the manufacturing industry followed with positions in marketing, factory management, international sales and as a managing director with companies manufacturing electrical products.

He has served as the diocesan secretary in Coventry for the past 10 years, during which time he supported the work of the diocese in its parishes, cathedral, church schools and academies and in a joint venture company with the Church Urban Fund. He is also a lay canon of Coventry Cathedral and has been involved there as a member of its chapter and in its worship by leading services and preaching.

The post of provincial secretary is the most senior lay role in the Church – effectively its chief executive.

“Simon will bring his vast experience and expertise to the post of provincial secretary, having served for 10 years as diocesan secretary of the Diocese of Coventry and before that in the world of business,” the Archbishop of Wales, Dr Barry Morgan, said. “Born and brought up until he was nine in Wales, he is returning to his roots and we welcome him home.”

James Turner, chairman of the Church in Wales’ Representative Body, added: “We are delighted that Simon Lloyd has accepted this key role in the Church. He arrives at a time when the Church is undergoing major changes as part of its 2020 Vision strategy for growth and we look forward to the guidance and support he will bring to assist with that.”

Simon Lloyd said: “After 10 happy years serving the Church of England in Coventry and Warwickshire, I am looking forward to bringing all that I have learned there in service to the Church in Wales. I am excited by the challenges and opportunities my new role brings to enable the Church to flourish in every part of the land.”

The Bishop of Coventry, Dr Christopher Cocksworth, said that he and his colleagues in the diocese would “miss him greatly”, but added: “Nevertheless, we send him on gladly to the Church in Wales, grateful for all he has given to us and joyful that a whole province of the Anglican Communion will now be blessed by his many gifts.”