NFU Vice President Guy Smith said: "The chequered delivery of BPS payments over the last two years has not been an easy time for our members, NFU staff or the RPA. During that time we were always mindful that the RPA were not the architects of the IT meltdown in the spring of 2015 that lay at the root of the problems. This was due to mistakes and poor judgement made elsewhere. You could say that as RPA chief executive Mark Grimshaw had to receive the ultimate hospital pass. Given the gale he had to sail through, Mark has captained the RPA ship well to the point it now seems on an even keel. We are also mindful of the considerable improvement in SPS delivery the RPA showed from 2010 to 2014 under his leadership.
"We wish him well in his retirement and look forward to working with his successor which will be Paul Caldwell in the interim."
Paul Caldwell, who is the Basic Payment Scheme operational delivery director has held a number of senior positions within the RPA since 2001 including becoming the operations director in 2010. Mr Caldwell said: "I am proud to have the opportunity to lead the agency and recognise how important our work is to support our world-leading food and farming industry.
"That is why our priority is to ensure that remaining BPS payments are made to all eligible farmers as soon as possible and that we continue to deliver the other 40-plus schemes and services we administer."
Mr Grimshaw said: “It has been a great privilege to have led the RPA and its exceptional people through some major changes.
“Together we created and delivered an ambitious five year plan, getting the agency in the great shape it is today. After six years at the helm I have decided now is the time to stand down and hand over the reins to a new leader to take the organisation through the next phase of its development as part of the Defra group.”