The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has appointed Penny Alexander and Christopher Carter Keall as Non-Executive Directors (NED) on the Board of Covent Garden Market Authority (CGMA). Both will serve four-year terms, from 5 May 2026 to 4 May 2030.

Penny Alexander

Penny is a Stakeholder Engagement specialist NED; a strategic leader and board member skilled at building relationships and consensus with a broad range of stakeholders across different sectors and communities. She has more than 20 years’ experience in setting-up and leading urban, place-based partnership companies and has held board roles in a range of sectors and bodies. Penny delivers high-level direction and creative thinking backed by strong governance and process and is adept at effecting change to drive places forward.

Christopher Carter Keall

Christopher joins the Board as a Business Development specialist NED; a senior real estate executive with 35+ years' experience leading investment, asset management, and development strategies across real estate portfolios. He brings with him a proven track record, providing board-level governance across institutional, private equity, and public market contexts, with expertise in strategic transformation, ESG integration, and stakeholder management.

At the same time as announcing these appointments, Defra has reappointed David Fison, from 22 June 2026 to 21 December 2027.

CGMA is a public corporation that is accountable to Defra. CGMA runs New Covent Garden Market (NCGM), the UK’s largest fresh produce market, in Nine Elms, London.

These appointments have been made by Defra Ministers, in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process.

Wanda Goldwag OBE, Chair of CGMA, commented: “I’m delighted to welcome Christopher and Penny to the Board at a critical time for New Covent Garden Market. Their terms will span the completion of a huge redevelopment programme that is constructing a Market capable of maintaining, for decades to come, its position as a crucial hub in the supply chains for fresh food and flowers for London and the South East of England. I also welcome David’s reappointment – all three will play very important roles in the next phase.”