Keith Padgett is an English politician who served as Chief Executive of the

Falkland Islands The Falkland Islands (; es, Islas Malvinas, link=no ) is an archipelago in the South Atlantic Ocean on the Patagonian Shelf. The principal islands are about east of South America's southern Patagonian coast and about from Cape Dubouzet ...

from 2012 to 2016. Before his appointed as Chief Executive, Padgett served as the islands' Financial Secretary from 2008, which was renamed Director of Finance with the implementation of the 2009 Constitution. He also acts as Director of Corporate Resources. Padgett first came to the Falklands in 2001 to serve as Deputy Financial Secretary under Derek Howatt. He was a candidate for Chief Executive in 2007, losing out to Tim Thorogood. In 2008, he succeeded Howatt as Financial Secretary and in 2012 Padgett became

Chief Executive of the Falkland Islands The Chief Executive of the Falklands Islands is head of the public service responsible for the efficient and effective management of the Falkland Islands Government. The appointment, role and powers of the chief executive are set out in the Cons ...

, taking over from Thorogood who resigned for family reasons. As Chief Executive, Padgett led the Falkland Islands efforts to develop oil exploration in the Falklands Exclusive Economic Zone and assisted the Governor in leading commemorations for the 30th anniversary of the

Falklands War The Falklands War ( es, link=no, Guerra de las Malvinas) was a ten-week undeclared war between Argentina and the United Kingdom in 1982 over two British dependent territories in the South Atlantic: the Falkland Islands and its territorial de ...

in 2012. He presided over the sovereignty referendum in 2013, acting as returning officer, and also served as returning officer at the November 2013 general election. In early 2016 Padgett announced his intention to retire and was succeeded by Barry Rowland in October 2016.

References

Year of birth missing (living people) Living people Chief Executives of the Falkland Islands Directors of Finance of the Falkland Islands English emigrants to the Falkland Islands {{Falklands-stub